Career Timeline of Matty Healy: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Matty Healy built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Matthew 'Matty' Healy is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the pop rock band The 1975. He's recognized for his lyricism and the band's eclectic musical style, blending pop, rock, and electronic elements. Healy is also known for his often provocative onstage persona, which he sometimes refers to as performance art. He is considered an influential figure in the indie pop music scene.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1975: Reference to the band The 1975

In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, Healy had tweeted: "[I]f you truly believe that 'ALL LIVES MATTER' you need to stop facilitating the end of black ones", and posted a YouTube link to the 1975's protest song "Love It If We Made It".

Loading Video...

1975: Name inspiration of The 1975

The band name The 1975, came from the scribblings found on his copy of the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac that were dated "1 June, The 1975".

2002: Formation of the 1975

In 2002, Matty Healy formed the band the 1975 with his schoolmates at Wilmslow High School.

2002: Joining Adam Hann's Band

In 2002, at the age of 13, Matty Healy was recruited by Adam Hann to be the drummer of a band he was forming with Ross MacDonald at Wilmslow High School. He later became the lead vocalist.

2012: Signing with Dirty Hit and EP Release

In 2012, after years as the band's manager, Jamie Oborne set up his own independent label, Dirty Hit, and signed The 1975 to it. Subsequently, the band released four extended plays.

2012: Adoption of the Name 'The 1975'

In 2012, the band settled on the name The 1975, after playing under various other names. The name was inspired by scribblings found on a copy of Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road.

2012: Building Momentum in late 2012

In late 2012, The 1975 began to gain momentum. Radio DJ Zane Lowe gave airplay to the EP Facedown, contributing to the band's radio success.

2013: Releasing extended plays

From 2012 to 2013, the 1975 released four extended plays – Facedown, Sex, Music for Cars, and IV.

2013: Release of Debut Album 'The 1975'

In 2013, The 1975 released their debut album, The 1975. The album reached number one on the UK Album Chart and the band sold out shows at Brixton Academy.

2013: Release of Self-Titled Debut Album

In 2013, the 1975 released their self-titled debut studio album after releasing four extended plays. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and charted on the Billboard 200.

2013: Anniversary performance of 2013 album

The band had a "10th Anniversary Performance" of their self-titled debut album released in 2013 in August 2023.

January 2016: Debut of "The Sound"

In January 2016, The 1975's third single, "The Sound", debuted on BBC Radio 1.

2016: Release of 'I Like It When You Sleep...'

In 2016, the 1975 released their second album, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It. It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and Billboard 200.

August 2018: Co-Production of No Rome's EP

In August 2018, Matty Healy and George Daniel co-produced No Rome's EP RIP Indo Hisashi.

2018: Release of 'A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships'

In 2018, the 1975 released their album A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships. This album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and charted on the Billboard 200.

2019: Ivor Novello Awards

In 2019, Matty Healy won the Best Contemporary Song award at the Ivor Novello Awards for "Love It If We Made It", and was also awarded Songwriter of the Year.

2020: Healy deactivates Twitter account after George Floyd post

Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Matty Healy tweeted a message in support of Black Lives Matter and posted a YouTube link to The 1975's protest song "Love It If We Made It". After facing online criticism for self-promotion, he apologized and deactivated his Twitter account.

Loading Video...

2020: Healy invites Greta Thunberg to record a speech about climate change for a 1975 track

In 2020, Healy invited Greta Thunberg to record a speech about climate change for a 1975 track, and was criticised for hypocrisy by David Davies.

2020: Healy pledges to only play at music festivals with a gender-balanced lineup

In 2020, Healy pledged to only perform at music festivals that feature a gender-balanced lineup, advocating for women's rights in the music industry.

2020: Podcast Series with Musical Heroes

In 2020, Matty Healy recorded a podcast series interviewing his musical heroes, including Stevie Nicks, Brian Eno, Steve Reich, Kim Gordon, Mike Kinsella, Conor Oberst, and Bobby Gillespie.

2020: Healy states he did not intend to give any more interviews

In 2020, Matty Healy stated that he did not intend to give any more interviews, expressing that he felt he had reached a point where he didn't know how much he wanted to qualify his statements.

2020: Release of 'Notes on a Conditional Form'

In 2020, the 1975 released their album Notes on a Conditional Form, which topped the UK Albums Chart.

March 2021: Production of Beabadoobee's Solo EP

In March 2021, Matty Healy and George Daniel produced Beabadoobee's solo EP Our Extended Play.

October 2021: Guest Appearance at Greek Theatre

In October 2021, Matty Healy guest-opened for Phoebe Bridgers at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and they performed the first live duet of the 1975 song "Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America".

April 2022: Release of "Sleep Tight"

In April 2022, "Sleep Tight", a song co-written by Healy and Rob Milton, was released by Holly Humberstone.

July 2022: Release of Beatopia album

In July 2022, two tracks written by Healy, "Pictures of Us" and "You're Here That's the Thing", were released on Beabadoobee's album Beatopia.

2022: Release of 'Being Funny in a Foreign Language'

In 2022, Matty Healy wrote and produced, with Daniel and Jack Antonoff, The 1975's fifth studio album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, which gave the band its fifth consecutive number one in the UK.

2022: The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour commentary on contemporary masculinity

In 2022, The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour, written and directed by Healy, included a commentary on contemporary masculinity, exploring themes of internet isolation, fame, and sincerity. Clips from the show went viral on social media, prompting media coverage of Healy's onstage actions.

April 2023: Release of 'Live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra'

In April 2023, the band released Live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, which reached number two in the UK.

April 2023: Healy states the end of his "arsehole" era

In early April 2023, during a concert in Adelaide as part of The 1975's 'At Their Very Best' tour, Matty Healy stated, "The era of me being a fucking arsehole is coming to an end ... I can't perform off the stage anymore."

August 2023: Headlining Reading and Leeds Festivals

In August 2023, Matty Healy and the band headlined Reading and Leeds Festivals for the third time, performing their self-titled debut album to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

September 2023: Commencement of 'Still... At Their Very Best' Tour

In September 2023, Matty Healy and the band commenced their concert tour entitled Still... At Their Very Best across arenas in North America and Europe.

October 2023: Healy clarifies his onstage persona and apologizes

In October 2023, at a concert in Hollywood Bowl as part of The 1975's 'Still... At Their Very Best' tour, Matty Healy clarified that he had "performed exaggerated versions" of himself and apologized to those he had hurt. He pledged to do better moving forward.

2023: Collaboration on Japanese House Singles

In 2023, Matty Healy provided additional vocals and drums for the Japanese House singles "Sunshine Baby" and "Boyhood", respectively.

2023: Healy reflects on giving interviews

In 2023, Matty Healy reflected on giving interviews, stating: "I think I'd gotten to a point where I didn't know how much I wanted to qualify my statements."

March 2024: End of 'Still... At Their Very Best' Tour

In March 2024, Matty Healy and the band finished their concert tour entitled Still... At Their Very Best across arenas in North America and Europe.

2024: The band's four shows at the O2 Arena in London will mark the world's first-ever carbon-removed events.

In 2024, the band's four shows at the O2 Arena in London will mark the world's first-ever carbon-removed events. This involves carbon dioxide generated by the events being sucked out of the air, as well as planting trees and spreading carbon dioxide-absorbing volcanic rock on farmland.