Coldplay responds to suit

Coldplay says it’s just coincidence if parts of the group’s new hit song “Viva La Vida” sound like “If I Could Fly,” a 2004 instrumental by guitarist Joe Satriani, who has sued the band for copyright infringement.

“[With] the greatest possible respect to Joe Satriani, we have now unfortunately found it necessary to respond publicly to his allegations,” the band said in a statement posted Tuesday on its official website, www.coldplay.com.

“If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him,” the statement said. “Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write or have any influence on the song ‘Viva La Vida.’ We respectfully ask him to accept our assurances of this and wish him well with all future endeavours.”

“Viva La Vida” received Grammy nominations last week for record and song of the year, and the album “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends” is a contender for best album.

official website in L.A. federal court.

alleging that Coldplay’s songs appropriated “substantial original portions” of “If I Could Fly.”

“I did everything I could to avoid a court case with this situation,” Satriani told Music Radar-- Randy Lewis