This Manchester-based band is transcending boundaries with its controversial press statements and songs that go way beyond just sex, drugs, and rock & roll. The 1975 have a tendency to pick intense song subjects that reflect struggles present in all of our daily lives, wanting us to know that it’s okay to have the feels about them, nobody is judging you in this music. Here are 10 interesting facts about the band.
10 Interesting Facts About The 1975
- 21 May 2020
Climate Change, STDs, Police Brutalities, The Kardashians. What do these subjects have in common? The 1975.
Matty Healy likes to Ignore Boundaries
Lead singer Matty Healy is one of the most interesting frontmans in popular music, his actions speaking much louder than his colourful tattoos and hairstyles: at a recent show in Dubai, Healy leans forward to kiss a boy in the crowd to violate the country’s current homophobic laws. Message heard, loud and clear! Between kissing boys, girls, and whatever gender you identify with, and most recently speaking out against climate change, The 1975’s music is on a mission to change the world.
The four band members met in Wilmslow High School, Cheshire
Matty Healy, guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and drummer George Daniel met in Wilmslow High School, Cheshire, where they began playing together as teenagers. The 1975’s music was balladry with electric pop and punk elements, describing messy breakups and teenage angst.
The band started their own label and called it Dirty Hit
Record labels were just not interested in the quartet, as they could not be placed in a standard genre. What do you do when you come up against the word no, you start your own label.
Healy found the name scribbled in a book
When questioned about the band’s peculiar name, Healy says that he had stumbled upon it scribbled within a book at a yard sale. “It was almost suicidal, and it was dated at the bottom ‘1st June The 1975’. The use of the word ‘The’ really stuck with me. It was the perfect band name.”
The 1975 album is co-produced by Mike Crossey
In September 2013 the band released its self-titled debut, co-produced by Mike Crossey who was known for his work with the Arctic Monkeys and Foals. The album received much criticism for its controversial lyrics.
Chocolate is a euphemism for cannabis
We all know by now that the song “Chocolate” is a euphemism for cannabis, the song describing a flee from the police with a stash of “chocolate” in the car. Healy said the song portrayed classic “small town boredom”, the video of which featured the band riding around in a vintage 1975 Ford Consol. Popular in ski resorts throughout Canada, this song became an immediate epic track.
Pop Singer Halsey claimed The 1975 as one of her main influences
Pop icon Halsey started dating Matty Healy in 2014 after seeing him in a 1975 concert. In the year prior, the singer claimed Matty & Co. to be one of her main influences. “…he’s been influential to me just because of his lack of care.” It has even been suspected that Halsey’s Room 93 EP is about Healy and named after a hotel room that they once occupied together. “Colours”, a single featured on the EP, is also said to be about Healy, although Halsey still has yet to confirm.
Matty Healy almost gave ‘The Sound’ single to One Direction
In 2016 The 1975 released its second album (deep breath!): I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It. “The Sound” ended up being its hit single from this album, a personal record at this stage in the band’s career. Would you believe, Matty Healy says that he almost gave this song away to One Direction! “The Sound” was performed live at The Brits in 2017, but to the surprise of television audiences everywhere, The 1975 featured quotes of hateful critiques of the band’s music flash across television screens! Well played, lads, we see who had the last laugh there. The song is now a testament of a band who stayed true to its music, having a laugh while doing so.
In 2017 The 1975 were the Headline act at the Latitude Festival
In 2017 The 1975 was granted the festival headline slot at this iconic and annual summertime English festival. Bare-chested with his tattoos on show, painted eyes and messy hair Matty took to the stage by storm. “We’re the 1975 and we’re headlining Latitude…This is crazy!” said the singer three songs in. Whilst sipping from a pint of coke and lighting numerous cigarettes, Healy told fans that this was an iconic night for the band.
Clips of Greta Thunberg featured in their Electric Picnic for 2019
“We’re the greatest rock band in the world and we’re not even a rock band!” Matty Healy tells the Electric Picnic crowds, as he strutted around that Saturday evening’s mainstage. Opening with what was at the time their latest single, “People”, the band implored its young fans to “wake up” and make a change in something, and that it was time to stop wasting time “watching sh*t in bed”. The show had flashy neon lights, a pride flag, and clips of Greta Thunberg speaking out against environmental harms, but also hip-thrusting dance moves from Healy that inspired his screaming audience. The band gave its fans a perfect setlist, every song seeming to be a singalong, even if you didn’t know the words.
The 1975 fans everywhere anxiously await the 22nd May 2020 release date of the band’s fourth studio album, Notes On A Conditional Form. Since August of last year, we have been given a few singles from what is to be a 21-track effort, and see how the band is taking a turn in its music, straying away from its usual pop sound and Rom-Com lyrics.
Climate Change, TikTok dance challenges, the theme tune to Animal Crossing- The 1975 is everywhere, bringing their dynamic music and thought-provoking messages with them. Matty Healy and the boys seem to be on a quest to reinvent the culture that we live in with each album that they bring us. “One of my best lyrics ever,” claims Matty, is about to hit us this week in their latest album. Supposed subjects of highway traffic lights and guilty trips to McDonalds? You’ve already got us hooked.