Coldplay Countersues Former Manager Dave Holmes For $17 Million

Nobody said it was easy, it’s such a shame for us to part… and then sue each other? Earlier this year, Coldplay’s ex-manager Dave Holmes sued his former employers for $12 million, officially souring a working relationship that lasted over 20 years. But now, Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion are hitting back with legal action of their own. Here’s what we know:

Uno reverse: The English pop rock group has turned the tables on Holmes by fixing him with a $17 million countersuit, alleging that he pretty much s— the bed while putting together their Music of the Spheres tour. In their filing, Coldplay claimed that Holmes allowed costs to spiral out of control, overspending on unusable stage equipment and technology. 

The band also accused Holmes of using his status as Coldplay’s manager to secure loans totaling $30 million from Live Nation, which he then used to “fund a property development venture in or around Vancouver, Canada.”

All of this comes in the wake of Holmes’ quiet departure from Team Coldplay last year, two decades after he first came aboard in 2005. In August, he filed his original suit against the band members, alleging unpaid commission related to two unreleased albums he claimed to have worked on before their split.

What they’re saying: In a response to the countersuit, Holmes’ rep told The Sunday Times: “Coldplay know they are in trouble with their defence. 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.”