Coldplay Lead Marathon Performance of ‘Viva La Vida,’ Rock With Rihanna and Jay-Z

They're one of the biggest bands in the world -- as well as thoroughly British -- so it's only fitting that Coldplay helped bring the Cultural Olympiad to a close on Sunday (Sept. 9) with a performance that united musicians across the country in a celebration of the 2012 London Olympics.

The band was on hand to close out the London 2012 Festival, and they ended their set in grand fashion -- by leading a marathon rendition of their hit single 'Viva La Vida,' during which hundreds of musicians all over the U.K. joined in. The event was part of the Bandstand Marathon, a four-hour event that organizers described as "a fantastic afternoon of free live entertainment, getting people enthused about a wide range of music, and a great opportunity for everyone to celebrate what is good about their local area" as well as "a terrific opportunity to champion our local bandstands, very much part of our cultural heritage, and help bring them back to life."

As if that weren't enough, the London 2012 Festival also marked the end of this year's Paralympic Games, making the show a pretty spectacular gala -- and justifying singer Chris Martin's contention that it was "the biggest night of our lives." To help mark the occasion, the band enlisted famous friends (and studio collaborators) Rihanna and Jay-Z for their set, which included hits such as 'Yellow,' 'Clocks' and 'The Scientist.'