He was swaggering around with a pint that he barely touched – and fans were not impressed
Matty Healy of The 1975 performs on the Pyramid stage(Image: Jim Dyson/ Redferns)
The 1975 headlined Glastonbury Festival on Friday night, sparking a mixed reaction from fans across social media, including those who count themselves as enthusiasts of the band’s work.
Following months out of the spotlight, The 1975 returned with an exclusive Pyramid Stage performance; their only planned gig this year. Matty Healy and his bandmates pulled out all the stops to make sure their show was a memorable one.
Healy made a striking entrance holding a pint of Guinness – which remained largely untouched – in one hand and puffing on a cigarette with the other.
Early into their set, Healy seemed to tease his former flame, Taylor Swift, allegedly alluding to their romance which Swift is believed to have channelled into her latest album titled The Tortured Poets Department. Healy’s fleeting liaison with the then freshly single Taylor Swift in 2023 quickly made waves across news outlets.
Although their dalliance was brief, it sparked enough fire for Swift to drop a few hints about Healy in some tracks off The Tortured Poets Department, reports Somerset Live.
Addressing the crowd, he said: “What this moment is making me realise is that – yeah. This moment is making me realise. I probably am the best so I’m probably the best songwriter of my generation. A poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. I wanted to remind you – this poetry, I believed in it for you.”
Subsequently diving into their track ‘Chocolate’ – arguably one of their less poetic numbers – Healy clarified shortly after that his claim of being a poet was made in jest.
The headline act at Glastonbury sparked a divide among social media users: “Matty Healy swaggering about with a pint he’s no intention of drinking is the most annoying thing I’ve ever seen,” one person commented.
Another remarked: “Matty Healy carrying a pint of Guinness around to appear relatable and has not drunk a single sip in 10 minutes.”
A third said: “Matty Healy trolls on stage at Glastonbury: “I’m probably the best songwriter of my generation – the best, what do we say? A poet.”
Matty Healy of The 1975 performs as the band headline the Pyramid stage (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Yet another added: “The thing which makes Matty Healy so insufferable is it’s very easy to imagine that all the b*llendery he does on stage isn’t just for the performance but that he would genuinely sashay into Gregg’s reciting 14th century French poetry.”
Someone else chimed in: “Matty Healy trying to play the archetypal rock and roller with the leather jacket, pint of Guinness and a cigarette while simultaneously performing some of the blandest music imaginable is quite the contradiction. About as rock and roll as Aled Jones.”
However, there were those who enjoyed the set despite their reservations about the frontman. One fan expressed: “Say what you want about matty Healy but he is a SHOW MAN.” Another stated: “The 1975’s music is really good, but Matty Healy really is an insufferable b*llend of a frontman!”.
And another added: “I do understand why Matty Healy is a polarising character but I think The 1975 are a brilliant band with sharp songwriting, brilliant diversity in sound and excellent musicianship. Still my favourites!”
A fourth commented: “Should have been all about the #1975 but Healy has decided to hijack it and turn in a car crash performance. You can see it in the bands faces. All he had to do was hold it together for one day and he’s failed miserably.”
A fifth remarked: “The 1975 are actually pretty good! It’s just a shame that Matty Healy is an absolute weapon.”
According to a source speaking to The Mirror, there was notably less of a crowd for the 1975, with artists like Lewis Capaldi and CMAT drawing larger audiences to the Pyramid Stage.
Some attendees expressed that the performance wasn’t to their taste and chose to leave the area.
Healy later addressed the audience during the show, saying: “”Use your platform, that’s what they say. People who watch this might be disappointed at the lack of politics in this show… We honestly don’t want our legacy to be one of politics, we want it to be of love and friendship.
“I don’t think we need more politics, we need more love. I know that’s really basic.”
The 1975 have seen significant success with their albums ‘A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships’ and ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, leading up to their headline spot at Glastonbury.
The band has earned considerable acclaim, securing four Brit Awards, which includes winning the British Group award twice, British Album of the Year in 2019, and Best Rock/Alternative in 2023.