Watch Coldplay pay tribute to Gene Wilder with 'Pure Imagination' cover
by Richard Howard
August 30, 2016
Coldplay mourned Gene Wilder with a Willy Wonka classic.
Comedy legend Gene wilder passed away on Sunday from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. Among the millions mourning the loss of the greatest comedic actors of all time have been a host of celebrities. Coldplay added themselves to that number on Monday during their concert in Denver, saying their goodbyes with a short acoustic rendition of ‘Pure Imagination,’ a Wilder-sung classic from one of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory‘s most iconic scenes.
If you’re unfamiliar with Wilder and don’t get why everyone is so nuts about him, beyond being an insane talent (go watch all his movies right now), listen to his nephew explain why Wilder kept his illness a secret:
“The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that 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 idea of one less smile in the world.”
Rest in peace, you awesome, awesome human being.