Coldplay is countersuing their former manager, Dave Holmes, for $17 million in damages. Variety revealed in August that Holmes had filed a lawsuit in London’s High Court against the band for over $12 million worth of unpaid commission related to their tenth and eleventh (unreleased) studio albums.

Holmes managed Coldplay for over 20 years before they parted ways last year. Preceding Holmes’ lawsuit, Coldplay had threatened in legal letters to file a “significant counterclaim” along with any defense. Coldplay accusing Holmes of allowing their ‘Music of the Spheres’ tour to spiral out of control, citing $10 million spent on bespoke stage pylons that were unusable and a screen that was too big. The countersuit also claims that Holmes borrowed $20 million from tour promoter Live Nation which he used to fund a property development in Canada.

A rep for Holmes told The Sunday Times: “Coldplay know they are in trouble with their defense. Accusing Dave Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand — Coldplay had a contract with Dave, they are refusing to honour it and they need to pay Dave what they owe him.”

Coldplay Countersue Former Manager For $17M, Citing Useless Bespoke Pylons

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