Today was the day it all went horribly wrong for England's Coldplay. Rousted out of bed for a comprehensive interview with VH1.com, singer Chris Martin and guitarist Jon Buckland gamely put rumors about working with Rammstein to rest, reveal why they used to be a boy band called Pectoralz, and explain why their No. 1 fan is Sly Stallone.

Sly's taste in scripts may be questionable, but he knows a good band when he hears one. So does most of America, who on the strength of "Yellow" have been packing Coldplay's shows from coast to coast. But the slog across the continent has proved to be a little trying. Martin's got a cold and later that night, the band will have to call its first New York performance short, after just two songs.

Coldplay seem to realize that nothing's very easy. Martin still shivers when he remembers making the "Yellow" video on a wet strand. But for someone whose honesty on record has made many clutch their acclaimed debut, Parachutes, to their hearts like a security blanket, the 22-year-old's a little cagier when it comes to explaining his lyrics. He brightens up, though, when asked how he first met Buckland.

"There's a thing in England called Dial-a-Date," he laughs. "And what happens is you ring up to meet a girl. They made a mistake with me and him. Because he had long hair. They thought he was more girly. They put us together. We didn't fall in love, but we did make a band." Clearly a match made during long walks on the beach, but one that - with the assistance of bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion - has resulted in one of the strongest collections of songs of the year.

Don't call it a British invasion just yet. The canceled gig has left some unfinished business, and the young band is trying to come to grips with the fact that Parachutes has been banned in China. But they won't let culture shock bother them. By the time they come back to tour America again in April, more fans will have succumbed to their charm. And they intend on making the next album even better than the last. So how is their episode of Behind the Music going to end?

"Well, I don't think we'll be saying anything," sniffles Martin, peering at death's door. "Have you ever seen the scene in Spinal Tap where they're all around Elvis' grave? I thought it would be some young band around our graves, talking about what we were going to do before we binged out on coke." Adds Jonny with a chuckle, "And singing 'Yellow' in close harmony."