Chris Martin: I bought an Adam Duritz dreadlock, I planted it

In “Have You Seen Me Lately”, a documentary on the success of Counting Crows in the 90s aired on HBO, there is a curious (and also a little disturbing) anecdote regarding Chris Martin, leader of Coldplay – called to testify to his love for Adam Duritz and “Mr. Jones”‘s band:

The documentary has as its absolute protagonist the frontman and mind of the band, Adam Duritz – and recounts the debut of the band, as well as its enormous success between 1993 – the year of release of “August and everything after” and the single “Mr. Jones” – and 1996, when the second album “Recovering the satellites” was released. Duritz became a celebrity, recognizable by his dreadlocks, but the band became the target of gossip and criticism, and of hatred from the most uncompromising rock audience.

Among the people interviewed to talk about the band, there is Chris Martin, who talks about how Duritz and the Counting Crows were role models for him as a child, making him feel entitled to write emotional and personal songs. Martin also tells a half-joking anecdote: in the section where Duritz talks about his famous dreadlocks and how they helped give him an identity as a kid, the Coldplay singer says: “I bought a dreadlock and planted it, hoping to grow a little Adam.”

For the record, Duritz cut off his dreadlocks in 2018 – they were actually more likely a wig for some time – at the suggestion of his partner. When we interviewed him a few years ago, he told us:

One morning I got up, brushed my face and teeth, and simply shaved my head. My girlfriend was still sleeping and I scared the shit out of her. But it was liberating. For days I saw people talking about my hair, but maybe I should have expected it.

Ironically, Coldplay have become stars – even bigger than the Crows – but even more hated and divisive, for the same flaws attributed to their colleagues: emotional songs, declared ambition, and a frontman who frequents Hollywood stardom. The documentary, produced by Bill Simmons of The Ringer, should be available for streaming in Italy in 2026 on HBO Max, the new streaming platform that will debut on January 13th. A compilation entitled “Have You Seen Me Lately” was also taken from the documentary, like the single that preceded the second album, “Recovering the Satellites”. The band will return to Italy next summer: they will play in Rome on June 14th.