The popular English rock band, Coldplay, one of the most commercially successful acts of the new millennium, recently announced their “Viva La Vida” North American Tour in support of their new album sporting the same name. The album is scheduled to be released June 17 and the tour, which kicks off in June, will land at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, July 19. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

Formed in 1998, Coldplay features Chris Martin (vocalist/pianist/guitarist), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist), Guy Berryman (bassist) and Will Champion (drummer/multi-instrumentalist). They achieved worldwide fame with the success of their debut album Parachutes (2000) and later their follow-up album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002). The band also has earned popularity for its recent singles “Speed of Sound” and the Grammy Award-winning “Clocks.” The group’s material has often been compared to major artists including U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, George Harrison and Johnny Cash.

Viva La Vida, produced by Brian Eno and Markus Dravs and the follow-up to their most recent album X&Y, will be released by Capitol Music Group. The album’s lead single, “Violet Hill,” was downloaded by two million people during a recent one-week period in which the band made the song available to fans for free from their website. It now is available for purchase at all digital retailers and is quickly rising to the top on a number of radio charts. X&Y, released in June 2005, debuted at No. 1 in 32 countries and was the best-selling album of the year with more than eight million copies worldwide. To date the album has sold more than 10 million.

Tickets priced at $94.76, $75.71 and $56.67, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, and Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com, www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com.