“We kept trying to write one for 20 years, but they’re not very good, to be honest”: A Skyfall of Stars, anyone? Rare Coldplay recordings are being auctioned, including their early attempt at a Bond theme

UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 01: Photo of Chris MARTIN and COLDPLAY and Jonny BUCKLAND and Will CHAMPION and Guy BERRYMAN; Posed group portrait in hedge L-R Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland.

Some of Coldplay’s rarest recordings are going up for auction, including their first stab at a James Bond theme.

They’re being sold by the producer Chris Allison, who worked with the band in their early days. They include the master tapes for their first Parlophone release, the Blue Room EP, which came out in autumn 1999, and alternate versions of some of the tracks that ended up on their debut album, Parachutes, including Shiver and We Never Change.