Coldplay have paid tribute to Frightened Rabbit’s late singer and songwriter Scott Hutchison on what would have been his 38th birthday by ‘covering’ one of his songs.
‘Champion Of The World’ features a co-write credit for the writers of Owl John’s ‘Los Angeles Be Kind’. Owl John was Hutchison’s solo project, which released one self-titled album in 2014. Hutchison took his own life in May 2018, following a lengthy battle with depression and anxiety. A mental health charity called Tiny Changes was founded in Scott’s memory in May 2019 by his brother and bandmate Grant Hutchison and his family.
Of his band’s new single, Coldplay singer Chris Martin said: “Scott had a song called ‘Los Angeles Be Kind’, which I love. When I first heard it, I thought it was going to go one way; but it went another. Anyway ‘Champion Of The World’ is the song that came from following the other path, and that’s why Scott is a co-writer on this song.
“Today (November 20) is also his birthday. So happy birthday Scott and thank you for your beautiful music, wherever you are.”
Scott’s Frightened Rabbit bandmate Simon Liddell described the Coldplay track as “a beautiful song”.