After the ordeals of the Endurance expedition (1914-1916), Thomas Orde Lees (1877-1958) returned to civilization and became a pioneer in the new field of parachuting. The British military establishment was skeptical; surely it was insane and unmanly to trust in these newfangled devices! Lees pointed out that pilots with no means of escape were being condemned to horrible, unnecessary deaths. He set out to show that parachutes were safe and effective.

Lees tested parachutes in all kinds of conditions and situations. Two of his most famous jumps were off Tower Bridge and over the Statue of Liberty.

The War Office disliked the publicity that these "stunts" garnered. They were also unhappy that Lees jumped with civilians, including (gasp) women! In 1919 he was asked to resign or face a court martial. He chose to quietly step aside.

For his services, Lees was awarded the Order of the British Empire and the Air Force Cross.

Even though I'm a huge Coldplay fan I overlooked Parachutes for a long time, just cause I'm not particularly fond of acoustic - I'm a big, wall-of-sound, swirly kind of person - but damn. When you're feeling a certain kinda way it really hits.

Top Tracks

Trouble

We Never Change

Coldplay - Parachutes / clear vinyl