During their concert in Denver last week, the members of Coldplay paid tribute to Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory star Gene Wilder by performing a rendition of the song "Pure Imagination." The band made the cover just hours after the actor's death.
Coldplay was at Colorado's Pepsi Center on Aug. 29 for the group's A Head Full of Dreams tour. While performing the band's 2002 hit "The Scientist" from the album A Rush of Blood to the Head, vocalist Chris Martin inserted the memorable opening lines from "Pure Imagination," a song sung by Wilder while playing the character Willy Wonka in the 1971 musical fantasy film.
Following the concert, Coldplay posted a video of the short cover in the group's official Twitter account.
In a world of pure imagination... R42 pic.twitter.com/R2KD3kA0RK
— Coldplay (@coldplay) August 30, 2016
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wilder died on Aug. 29 at the age of 83 at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. As confirmed by his family, the actor, who appeared in various other films including Young Frankenstein, The Producers and Blazing Saddles, died due to Alzheimer's disease.
His nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman noted that Wilder was diagnosed with the illness three years ago but his family only decided to reveal his condition after his death in order to avoid upsetting his younger fans.
"The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn't vanity," Walker-Pearlman said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "But more so that the countless young children who would smile or call out to him, 'There's Willy Wonka,' would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion."
"He simply couldn't bear the ideal of one less smile in the world," the actor's nephew continued.
