Matthew Timothy Healy is an English singer-songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist for the indie art pop band The 1975. Known for his lyrical prowess, diverse musical style, and provocative performance art, Healy has significantly influenced indie pop music. His onstage persona is a key element of The 1975's artistic identity.
1975: The 1975's Commentary on Contemporary Masculinity
In 1975, The 1975 began incorporating commentary on contemporary masculinity into their performances, with Healy writing and directing their At Their Very Best world tour in 2022 and 2023.
1975: The 1975's Genre-Hopping Approach
The 1975's genre-hopping approach was evident in 1975.
1975: The 1975's At Their Very Best and Still... At Their Very Best Tours
In 1975, The 1975 embarked on two tours: At Their Very Best and Still... At Their Very Best.
1975: The Band Name is Chosen
The band adopted the name 'The 1975' in 1975.
1975: The Band Name is Chosen
The band name, The 1975, was chosen in 1975.
1975: The 1975's Genre-Hopping Approach
The 1975's genre-hopping approach was evident in 1975.
1975: The 1975's Genre-Hopping Approach
The 1975's genre-hopping approach confused major record label executives, leading to rejections in 1975.
1975: The 1975's Influence on Indie Pop Scene
In 1975, The 1975 started influencing the indie pop scene.
1975: Release of "Love It If We Made It"
In 1975, The 1975 released their protest song "Love It If We Made It."
April 1989: Birth of Matty Healy
Matthew Timothy Healy was born in April 1989.
April 1989: Birth of Matty Healy
Matthew Timothy Healy was born on 8 April 1989.
1996: First Concert Experience
In 1996, Matty Healy attended his first concert, Michael Jackson's HIStory show at Wembley Arena.
2002: Matty Healy Joins the Band
At the age of 13, Matty Healy joined the band as the drummer and later became the lead vocalist.
2002: The 1975 is Formed
Matty Healy formed The 1975 with his schoolmates in 2002.
2007: Matty Healy Attends Academy of Contemporary Music
Matty Healy attended the Academy of Contemporary Music from 2007 to 2008.
2008: Matty Healy Attends Academy of Contemporary Music
Matty Healy attended the Academy of Contemporary Music from 2007 to 2008.
2012: The 1975 Sign with Dirty Hit
The 1975 signed with Jamie Oborne's independent label, Dirty Hit, in 2012.
2012: The 1975 Gain Momentum
The 1975 began to build momentum in late 2012 with radio play from Zane Lowe and radio success with 'Sex' and 'Chocolate'.
2012: Divorce of Matty Healy's Parents
Matty Healy's parents, Tim Healy and Denise Welch, divorced in 2012.
2012: The 1975 Settle on Their Band Name
After playing under various names, the band settled on the name 'The 1975' in 2012.
2013: Shared Favorite Albums
In 2013, Matty Healy shared his ten all-time favorite albums with Louder Than War.
2013: Relationship with Halsey
Matty Healy was romantically linked to American singer-songwriter Halsey in 2013.
2013: The 1975 Release Four EPs
The 1975 released four extended plays from 2012 to 2013: Facedown, Sex, Music for Cars, and IV.
2013: The 1975's Debut Album
The 1975 released their debut album, 'The 1975', in 2013.
2013: The 1975 Release Debut Album
The band released their self-titled debut studio album in 2013.
2014: Healy's Anti-Religion Stance and Twitter Controversy
In 2014, Matty Healy, a self-described atheist and patron of Humanists UK, sparked controversy with a tweet criticizing those who challenged non-religious perspectives in the wake of ISIS atrocities. He engaged in a heated exchange with a Harry Styles fan account, expressing resentment for being 'educated' on religion by them.
2014: Relationship with Taylor Swift
Matty Healy was romantically linked to American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift in 2014.
2015: Healy's Reflection on the 2014 Twitter Controversy
In 2015, Healy reflected on the controversy surrounding his 2014 tweets, acknowledging his own shortcomings in terms of progressiveness and expressing embarrassment over certain ingrained thought patterns.
2015: Relationship with Gabriella Brooks
Matty Healy began a relationship with Australian model Gabriella Brooks in 2015.
January 2016: Release of 'The Sound'
The 1975's single, 'The Sound', debuted on BBC Radio 1 on 14 January 2016.
2016: Release of 'I Like It When You Sleep'
The 1975 released their second album, 'I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It', in 2016.
2016: Release of 'I Like It When You Sleep'
The 1975's second album, 'I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It', was released in 2016 and topped both the UK Albums Chart and Billboard 200.
2017: Rehabilitation in Barbados
In late 2017, Matty Healy spent seven weeks in an inpatient drug rehabilitation clinic in Barbados after an intervention by his bandmates.
August 2018: Co-Producer for No Rome's EP
Matty Healy and George Daniel co-produced No Rome's EP RIP Indo Hisashi, which was released in August 2018.
2018: Healy's Evolving View on Faith
By 2018, Healy's perspective on faith had shifted. While still an atheist, he expressed a deeper understanding and sensitivity towards the cultural aspects of religion, differentiating it from scripture and dogma.
2018: Release of 'A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships'
The 1975 released 'A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships' in 2018.
2019: End of Relationship with Gabriella Brooks
Matty Healy's relationship with Australian model Gabriella Brooks ended in 2019.
2019: Ivor Novello Awards for "Love It If We Made It"
In 2019, Matty Healy won the Best Contemporary Song award at the Ivor Novello Awards for "Love It If We Made It". He was also awarded Songwriter of the Year.
2019: Queerty Misinterprets Healy's Words
In 2019, Queerty published an article that misconstrued Matty Healy's comments about his sexuality, leading him to issue a statement on Twitter clarifying his stance and expressing discomfort with the publication's interpretation.
2019: Grammy Award Nomination and Brit Award Win
In 2019, Matty Healy and The 1975 received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Song for "Give Yourself A Try". Their album, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, also won a Brit Award for British Album of the Year.
2020: Healy Deactivates Twitter Account Amidst Controversy
Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Healy deactivated his Twitter account after facing criticism for a tweet deemed self-promotional. He defended his intention to share his thoughts on the matter and expressed frustration with the online reaction.
2020: Healy's Decision to Stop Giving Interviews
In 2020, Healy decided to cease giving interviews, expressing a desire to be more deliberate and thoughtful about his public statements. He later reflected on feeling the need to qualify his statements.
2020: Podcast Series Interviewing Musical Heroes
In 2020, Matty Healy recorded a podcast series in which he interviewed his musical heroes, including Stevie Nicks, Brian Eno, Steve Reich, Kim Gordon, Mike Kinsella, Conor Oberst, and Bobby Gillespie.
2020: NME Awards Wins
In 2020, The 1975 won Band of the Decade, Best British Band, and the Innovator Award at the NME Awards.
2020: Relationship with FKA Twigs
Matty Healy began a relationship with English singer FKA Twigs in 2020.
2020: Release of 'Notes on a Conditional Form'
The 1975 released 'Notes on a Conditional Form', which topped the UK Albums Chart, in 2020.
2020: Release of 'Notes on a Conditional Form'
The band released 'Notes on a Conditional Form' in 2020.
March 2021: Co-Producer for Beabadoobee's EP
In March 2021, Matty Healy and George Daniel produced Beabadoobee's solo EP Our Extended Play.
October 2021: Guest Performance with Phoebe Bridgers
In October 2021, Matty Healy guest-opened for Phoebe Bridgers at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on her Reunion Tour, where they performed their first live duet of "Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America".
2021: Georgia Twinn Releases "Matty Healy"
In 2021, Essex singer Georgia Twinn released the single "Matty Healy," a song that embraces the "Healywave" aesthetic.
April 2022: Co-wrote "Sleep Tight" for Holly Humberstone
In April 2022, "Sleep Tight", a composition by Matty Healy and Rob Milton, was released by Holly Humberstone.
July 2022: Co-wrote Two Songs for Beabadoobee's Album
In July 2022, two tracks written by Matty Healy, "Pictures of Us" and "You're Here That's the Thing", were included in Beabadoobee's album Beatopia.
November 2022: Healy Denounces Kanye West's Antisemitic Remarks
In November 2022, Healy publicly condemned Kanye West's antisemitic comments, asserting that mental health issues did not excuse such behavior.
2022: Release of Being Funny in a Foreign Language
In 2022, Matty Healy wrote and produced, with George 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: Matty Healy Discusses Therapy and Trauma
In a 2022 interview, Matty Healy mentioned being in therapy and alluded to dealing with trauma stemming from early sexual experiences.
2022: End of Relationship with FKA Twigs
Matty Healy's relationship with English singer FKA Twigs ended in 2022.
2022: Release of 'Being Funny in a Foreign Language'
The 1975 released 'Being Funny in a Foreign Language' in 2022.
2022: Healy's Political Views
By 2022, Healy, who identifies as a liberal and a traditional progressive, had become more cautious of rigid moral standards within the left, emphasizing the importance of personal growth, acknowledging mistakes, and engaging in open dialogue.
2022: The 1975's At Their Very Best Tour
In 2022, The 1975 embarked on their At Their Very Best world tour, which Healy wrote and directed. The tour included commentary on contemporary masculinity, exploring themes of isolation, fame, and the pressures of being a single man in the digital age.
January 2023: Healy's Performance Sparks Controversy
In January 2023, a video of Healy performing "Love It If We Made It" went viral, sparking debate over a gesture he made while singing a lyric referencing Donald Trump.
February 2023: Healy's Appearance on The Adam Friedland Show
In February 2023, Healy appeared on The Adam Friedland Show, a decision partly driven by a desire to provoke his fanbase. The episode sparked controversy due to jokes made by the co-hosts about Ice Spice's ethnicity, which were wrongly attributed to Healy. Healy also joked about watching pornography featuring Black women, referencing the controversial website Ghetto Gaggers. Healy would later apologize to Ice Spice who confirmed that they remain on good terms.
March 2023: Healy Addresses Podcast Controversy
In March 2023, Healy addressed the controversy surrounding his appearance on The Adam Friedland Show in an interview with The New Yorker, reflecting on his behavior and acknowledging a tendency towards "oppositional" behavior and exaggeration.
April 2023: Release of Live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra & "At Their Very Best" Tour
In April 2023, The 1975 released Live with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, which reached number two in the UK. Matty Healy also embarked on a world tour entitled At Their Very Best to support the band's new album.
April 2023: Healy Hints at a Change in Behavior
During a concert in April 2023, Healy suggested that his era of being an "arsehole" was ending and that he could no longer perform offstage in the same manner.
August 2023: Reading and Leeds Festivals Headline Performance
In August 2023, Matty Healy and The 1975 headlined Reading and Leeds Festivals for the third time with a "10th Anniversary Performance" of their self-titled debut album released in 2013.
September 2023: "Still... At Their Very Best" Tour
In September 2023, The 1975 commenced a concert tour entitled Still... At Their Very Best across arenas in North America and Europe. The tour ended in March 2024.
September 2023: Relationship with Gabbriette
In September 2023, Matty Healy began dating American model and musician Gabbriette.
October 2023: Healy Apologizes for Past Behavior
In October 2023, during a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Healy issued a public apology for his past behavior, acknowledging that he had often presented exaggerated versions of himself in an attempt to embody the role of a 21st-century rockstar. He apologized for any hurt caused and pledged to do better in the future, emphasizing that not everything he does as an artist should be taken literally.
2023: The 1975's At Their Very Best Tour Continued
The 1975's At Their Very Best world tour continued in 2023, prompting wide media coverage and discussions about Healy's onstage actions. The tour's exploration of modern masculinity, through performance art, stage play, and elements of surrealism, drew both praise and criticism, with Healy's provocative acts sparking conversations about consent, fantasy, and artistic expression.
2023: Healy's Admiration for Comedians
In 2023, during a performance in Denmark, Healy expressed his admiration for comedians and social critics George Carlin, Bill Hicks, and Lenny Bruce, highlighting their use of vulgarity to challenge social hypocrisy and emphasizing the importance of the left's ability to disrupt the status quo.
2023: Brit Award Nomination and Win
In 2023, Matty Healy was nominated for Album of the Year at the Brit Awards and Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards for his work on Being Funny in a Foreign Language. He also won the British Rock/Alternative Act at the 2023 Brit Awards.
2023: Collaboration with The Japanese House
In 2023, Matty Healy provided additional vocals and drums for The Japanese House singles "Sunshine Baby" and "Boyhood" respectively.
2023: Healy's Reflection on Past Interviews
In 2023, Healy reflected on his past interviews and acknowledged reaching a point where he questioned the extent to which he wanted to qualify his statements.
2023: Knox Releases "Not The 1975"
In 2023, Nashville-based singer Knox released "Not The 1975," a pop rock track inspired by a woman's comment about Healy's musical style.