Business F1 Top 20 Petrolheads: Guy Berryman, A Melody Of Car Sounds
30 December 2023 2 min read 3 images
Photo credit: BusinessF1
Guy Berryman, the bassist of Coldplay and a fervent car enthusiast, says, “They are cars and they are meant to be driven.” His collection resides in a spotless garage, equipped with a workshop, nestled in the old barns of his charming 19th-century home in Gloucestershire, England. This home has evolved into more than just a residence; it’s his office, studio, and a hub for creativity. Berryman learned to play the bass early on and was fortunate to team up with Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, and Will Champion at University College London. The rest is history: the four talented young men formed Coldplay. Now in their early forties, they have entered the 100 million album sales club, securing their financial fortunes. This success, partly due to their decision to co-author their songs, has allowed Berryman to indulge in his passion for cars, elevating him to a true connoisseur in the automotive world.
Berryman didn’t just settle for buying the cars he liked one by one. He followed his instincts, typical of a musician, in selecting his collection. Yet, he ventured further, becoming the publisher of ‘The Road Rat,’ a magazine that embodies his vision of automotive culture. This ambitious project, into which he and his friends invested nearly $3.5 million, is laid out like a musical score and operates from his home, above his garage and workshop.
The Road Rat is a celebration of classic cars, reflecting Berryman’s thoughts and passion. He himself is the creative director and takes great care in its management, though it is led by the renowned journalist Michael Harvey.
Each issue of ‘The Road Rat’ is numbered but not dated, as it is designed to be timeless, not reflecting the moment it was written or published. It will be just as relevant in 20 years as it would have been 10 years ago.
Targeting the artistically inclined and eccentric car lovers, it’s a large-format, high-quality quarterly publication. But The Road Rat is a rather pretentious magazine, not suitable for everyone, and the use of the word ‘pretentious’ is a strong compliment rather than a criticism. Without its pretentious vision of life and motors, The Road Rat would make no sense.
The debut issue in 2019 featured an extraordinary portrait of Lewis Hamilton by Sebastian Krüger on the cover, described as ‘pop realist.’ The second issue was the exact opposite, featuring a beautifully photographed long-tail Porsche 917, simply extraordinary. Another creative twist was the cover dedicated to Enzo Ferrari: an unrecognizable portrait where Enzo looks more like the actor Barry Pepper than himself, or perhaps it’s Pepper disguised as Enzo Ferrari, who can tell? It’s the work of a cutting-edge VFX artist named Josh Geroge.
Undoubtedly, The Road Rat caters to a niche audience with unique tastes. The critical question is whether there are enough of them to make it commercially viable. This challenge is something Berryman and his team will likely face for the foreseeable future. If they’re willing to invest half a million dollars annually, the magazine has the potential to flourish. And all signs indicate that they’re prepared to do just that.
In the meantime, Guy enjoys driving his diverse collection of cars. His garage boasts cars with a special affinity for those bodied by Zagato, a rare Bizzarrini, and a 1968 Alpine Renault A220 that raced at Le Mans and which he has managed to register for road use. Think of it this way: between concerts, publishing, and driving. What more could you want from life?
The December issue of "BusinessF1" magazine featured the Top 20 Petrolheads, showcasing exceptional collectors in the world of motorsport. Roarington will delve deeper into the captivating stories of these remarkable enthusiasts, sharing a new profile each week.
CLASSIC CAR MATCHER