Things No One Knows About Matty Healy
By Carole
1 year ago
1. He Used To Be The Drummer In The 1975
Image source: Chronicle Live
Matty Healy met the other band members at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire, England in 2002 when the boys were young, only 13 years old. Before he became the band's lead singer, Healy played drums and pretty well! Adam Hann's girlfriend had told the boys that Adam had wanted to start a band and knew Matt could play drums, so would he join. He did sing a bit as well but not as the lead. Then the initial lead singer left and drummer George Daniel came on board. The decision was made to move talented Matt on to be the front man.2. He Turned Down Huge Tour With Ed Sheeran
Image source: Stellar Magazine
Healy turned heads and left everyone aghast when he revealed, in September 2022, that he had turned town an offer to be the support act for no less than Ed Sheeran. It was to be a four month stadium tour and he was asked to open each show but even a huge pay check couldn't get Matt to change his mind. His reasoning for not agreeing to the invitation was that he doesn't place importance on money alone as he had "zero commercial ambition." Easy for him to say when he was already raking it in at his own sell out gigs!3. Matty Bit Into Raw Steak On Stage!'
Image source: Yahoo
There's many photos online of Matt Healy performing with cigarettes and a good bottle of Malbec. These aren't one off instances, more his signature props. As well as these, Healy has a bit of a reputation for performance art during The 1975's shows. You may recall the mid-song snogs when performing "Robbers" or the shocking one where he snacks on raw meat during the show in front of thousands of fans! This was at Madison Square Garden, straight after he did a dozen shirtless push-ups on stage. The act was supposed to address toxic masculinity.4. He Worked On Taylor Swift's Album "Midnights"
Image source: Unilad
Back in September 2022, Healy dismissed the subject of joining forces with Taylor Swift and said it was fake news. However, at a later date he did admit that he did indeed work with the superstar on her album "Midnights." He pointed out that his contribution didn't make the cut though and that version was never released. When the crowd booed the news of their defunct collaboration, the singer defended Taylor Swift, saying it happened for reasons that should not be criticised and he went on to say Taylor was amazing.5. Matty Shares Producer With Taylor Swift
Image source: The Mirror
Matty Healy and Taylor Swift have one certain thing in common. The pair share a producer, Jack Antonoff who is also the lead vocalist with the band Bleachers. Antonoff is an eight time Grammy winner and this year took home the Producer Of The Year Grammy, such is his expertise. Jack has also collaborated with St Vincent, Lorde, Florence and the Machine and Lana Del Rey. Taylor Swift was quoted as describing The 1975's album "Being Funny In A Foreign Language" as "so funny." That was her way of complimenting him.6. Matty Comes From An Acting Family
Image source: Hello Magazine
It will be no surprise to you, because of Matt's talent and showmanship, that he comes from a long line of entertainers. Both of of parents, now divorced, are television actors. Hs dad Tim Healy was in "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" and "Benidorm" while his mother was in the longest running British soap "Coronation Street." She is now a regular panellist on "Loose Women" and is quite outspoken. Maybe that's where Matty gets it from! Tim and Denise have a younger son called Louis and he is an actor on TV and more recently in a film.7. The 1975 Was Formed With School Friends
Image source: Wiki-Fandom
Matty Healy formed The 1975 21 years ago in 2002 with his school friends, Adam Hann, George Daniel and Ross MacDonald. They used to perform under different band names and none of them really resonated. That was until Healy was inspired by a rough, scribbled note that he had found in the back of a book. It read "1 June, The 1975", a strange way of writing the date but intriguing to Matty. He decided there and then that it would be the perfect name for the band. He ran it past the other boys and they were all in agreement.8. Matty Healy Most Talked About Person On The Internet
Image source: British Vogue
It was just a few weeks ago that everyone appeared to be commenting on Taylor Swift's TikTok and Twitter accounts and it was all to do with her relationship with Matty Healy. We know they dated a good few years ago and remained friends, both socially and professionally but Taylor had literally just split from her long term love, Joe Alwyn. The tabloids said they were madly in love, they were pictured with each other's parents and were going to move in together. Fast forward and she is definitely single with a capital S!9. Matty Healy Is Not Only A Vocalist
Image source: Cosmopolitan
Cast aside the fact that Matty Healy is the lead vocalist with the 1975 because there is so much more to this music star. He writes the music for the band and you have to admit, there have been some real crackers in there! He also plays guitar and piano. He is infamous for having a ridiculous amount of energy, chaotic at times, when he's performing on stage and even invited fans on to the stage to kiss him during his most recent tour "At Their Very Best." No surprise that there was a big queue to get up there!10. He Acted In BBC's "Waterloo Road"
Image source: The Tab
When I found out this next snippet about the lovely Matt, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Turns out he was in a few of the early episodes of "Waterloo Road", the British drama on the BBC channel, set in a high school. There was always drama at the school, with someone dying each series, pupils and teachers having illicit affairs and that's just the tip of the iceberg. These escapes all paled into insignificance when we now know Matty Healy was in the program.11. Matty Has Been Compared to Roddy from "Flushed Away"!
Image source: BobFuzz
Matty could possibly, no, probably, be the inspiration behind Roddy, the rat, from the 2006 movie "Flushed Away. There's even a meme of him as the rat and this was shared with his audience during a concert in Brisbane. Healy explained to them that his mom's godfather produced movies and he was looking for inspiration for "Flushed Away" that he was working on - so the character was based on 4 year old Matty! It seems a crazy tale but we want to believe it's true. Stuff on the internet doesn't deny its authenticity.
12. He Cried When Donald Trump Was Elected
Image source: Reddit
Donald Trump was both popular and unpopular with the people of the United States! As he held such strong opinions regarding climate change, racial injustice, immigration and rights for the LGBTQ community, this got the backs up of many of the younger generation, especially those passionate about these causes . Matty Healy was one of those such people and he was never shy to discuss his dislike of the ex-president. Matty was very vocal about his activism and political opinions so, when Trump was elected, the musician cried his eyes out in frustration.13. Matty Is Banned From Dubai
Image source: Guy Times
The United Arab Emirates have very strict laws which many would say are archaic and unrealistic in the times we are living in. They have a zero drug tolerance law which may be a good thing but their views on same sex couples and affection they may show towards each other in public will put them behind bars for a long time. Matty Healy was almost arrested in Dubai and has been banned from the city because he shared a consensual kiss on stage with a male super fan who had held up a big sign "Marry Me."14. He Went Viral On TikTok Because Of Unscripted Autotune
Image source: NME
The unlikeliest of things or actions can often go viral on TikTok. This was the case with The 1975. The band were right in the middle of performing a version of "I Like America & America Likes Me’", which was piano-led and the mic was used to copy Matt Healy's auto-tuned vocals from the original recording in the studio. When Healy saw a fan in the crowd had fallen, he said to security, “Someone’s fallen down over there, go and fucking sort them out. Stop standing there like a bunch of dickheads.” This was met with huge applause!15. He Has Synesthesia And Sees Colors In Words
Image source: Pinterest
Have you ever heard of sound-color synesthesia? Matty Healy has because he says he has this and jokes that it's not the drugs talking. This is where you visualise certain colors when you hear specific sounds. Some musicians and artists often describe having it because they are so in-sync with their music that it takes them to a deeper place, so they say. Vincent van Gogh was reported to have it as does Billy Joel and Pharrell Williams. Healy says he knows when he's written "a banger" because of the color/sound connection.16. He's Struggled With Addiction
Image source: Manchester Evening News
Healy has previously openly discussed his heroin addiction and is the first to admit that it can be a challenge keeping clean from the killer drug when he is recording and touring with The 1975. Matty checked into a rehab facility in Barbados back in October 2017 to kick his heroin habit which he said was a daily occurrence. His family have been extremely supportive and continue to be. Some of the tracks on the band's album "A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships" tell the story of his experiences with addiction and going to rehab.17. He Was Rumored To Be Dating Halsey
Image source: Twitter
Back in 2015 and in right in the middle of the peak-Tumblr era, Healy was rumored to be dating Halsey, American singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist. This came about as she appeared at one of their concerts. Some fans of The 1975 even believed that the songs "She's American" and "The Sound" were written about Halsey and their relationship. When she released "Colors", this was also rumored to be about Matty but both parties remained tight lipped, neither confirming or denying the gossip.18. Matty Dated FKA Twigs
Image source: The Mirror
The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy, has also been linked to FKA Twigs The pair supposedly dated for around two years and that was during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are reported to have broken up in February 2022. FKA Twigs massively supports the transgender community. She began dating English actor Robert Pattinson in 2014 and they got engaged in 2017 but split up soon afterwards. Fans speculated that "When We Are Together" and "I'm In Love With You" by The 1975 was written about FKA Twigs.19. He's An Animal Lover
Image source: Reddit
Matty had a dog named Alan (after the poet Alan Ginsberg) who used to stay backstage at The 1975 concerts and as known as his dog-son! Alan was a popular pet on the internet and also had his own line of clothing! During the pandemic, Healy got a new puppy, Mayhem, who he picked out at a rescue centre. Mayhem was hard work to start with and Matty described himself as a "tired single mother, but worth it" when speaking about his four-legged friend. The dog was so nervous that he went to bed with Matty every night.20. Matty Healy Deletes And Reactivates His Social Media Accounts
Image source: The Mirror
Matty has used his social media accounts for various rants and raves and they haven't always gone down well with fans. This didn't bother him one iota as he wanted to shock and cause discussion. The idea was then to delete his account and then reactivate it. Like the old saying, "It's better to be talked about than not talked about" and Matty has always loved to shock. He has matured since then and at a recent concert, announced that his era of acting like a "f....ing a**hole" was coming to an end. We're glad to hear it!21. He's Very Vocal on LGBTQ Rights
Image source: Paper Magazine
Matty Healy told NME, “All that woke s**t that I used to crack on about…I come from art." What he meant was that his (mom's father) grandad, who recently passed away, was one of the first drag queens to perform in the United Kingdom! He says that he really believes that a lot of the best art comes from the gay community and cultures of color. He says people should be left alone to do their own thing. He feels very strongly about the LGBTQ community not being suppressed as everyone is equal in his world.22. He Has A Unique Sense Of Style
Image source: Fashionista
As well as being lead vocalist with The 1975, Matt Healy is also known for his, let's say, unusual sense of style. He loves to experiment with fashion and purposely tries to wipe out traditional gender norms and embrace individuality. Despite his unusual taste in clothes, Healy does not often devote any time during his interviews to discuss his choices and the reasons behind them. Nowadays, besides using his Instagram to show off his wardrobe, he also uses his account as a platform for opinions on his outfits from his fans.23. He Loves Collaborations With Other Artists
Image source: NME
We know that Healy collaborated with The 1975 but musical partnerships extend beyond this. Matt has worked with artists such as Beabadoobee, No Rome and Charli XCX. This showcases willingness to experiment and his versatility with different genres, pushing himself out of his comfort zone. About Charli XCX, he tweeted that she was a force to be reckoned with, writing "Pop 2" in a week and after he sent her "a beat at 5pm" he had woken up the next day to hear, she says in his own words, "A monster tune."24. This Is Why The 1975 Won't Do Festivals
Image source: Visit Isle Of Wight
While no one usually speaks out about the subject Matt Healy is passionate about it - the imbalance of male to female artists at festivals and it's pretty much in males' favour. This is the reason why The 1975 refuse to appear at festivals. The band have just finished touring twelve countries where they performed at 19 concerts. Because Matty has opened for Taylor Swift in the past on quite a few occasions, this may be why the rumors of their "relationship" broke the internet. It can only be good publicity for both of them!25. He Supports Charities
Image source: Variety
Matty Healy is an active supporter of charities such as Mind, War Child and Help Refugees. As he tells fans at his concerts, he wants to make a positive impact on society. He first wanted to be involved in humanitarian efforts and philanthropy a good few years ago and feels he is privileged that he has a platform to speak about it at his gigs. This goes way against his bad boy image but, like many artists, it is only an image. Matty said that Mind was particularly close to his heart, due to his own mental health battles.26. His Parents Are His Greatest Support
Image source: Daily Record
Even though his parents are divorced, they still remain good friends. They are Matt's greatest support and could not be more proud of him. This is despite his regular antics on stage but he is a showman and his mom and dad know that. His mom, Denise Welch, had been a bit of a hell raiser herself, back in the day, photographed in situations she would have preferred not to have been seen in. She, herself, struggled with (alcohol) addiction and like her son, has been very vocal about it. Family is everything to them and they are all there for each other.27. His Brother Louis Is Famous
Image source: See Future News
Louis Healy has followed in his well known parents' footsteps and forged a career in acting. He had appeared in various British soaps and recently landed a British film role. One of his more notable acting parts was in the British comedy TV series "No Offence" in 2017. He was also in the short film "Refugee" and the tv movie "Eric & Ernie." It's true he has not reached the same level of fame as his elder brother but he loves what he does and plans to continue.28. His Dad Portrays A Female
Image source: Daily Record
Matt Healy's dad, Tim Healy, has been a popular actor since the 1970s. He got his first big break in a British television series called "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" about a group of builders from Newcastle, England who travelled to Germany for a work contract. It was hugely popular at the time and catapulted the actors on the show to go on to movie role. More recently, he was in the sitcom "Benidorm" where he portrayed a cross dresser called Lesley. Maybe he based it on his late father in law who was a drag queen!29. His Tattoos Have Deep Meanings
Image source: Pinterest
When Matty Healy's grandmother passed away, to whom he was very close and in order to honor her, he got a tattoo on his chest. It depicted two birds, a heart and a handshake. The text read "True Love Annie." It took 16 hours to complete and is Matt's favourite out of all the many he has inked over his body. He also has his parents' names tattooed on his feet because he says it was them who inspired Matty to pursue a music career. This was his way of expressing his gratitude and love towards them.30. The Truth Came Out On The Breakfast Show
Image source: BBC
When Matt Healy recently appeared on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, the popular DJ got lots of useless info out of The 1975 vocalist. Mega-fans will love these. Matty says if he doesn't want to meet up with someone, he tells them he's in Malaysia! His favorite part of the MTV Awards was when Drake got stuck in traffic - a bit harsh! If he forgets his phone when he's been with his bandmates, they download dating apps and send out messages to complete strangers! We love all of these!What To Read Next
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