Robbie Williams has praised The 1975’s Matty Healy, calling him “super smart”, “unhinged,” and “willing to upset” in a recent post on social media. Williams expressed frustration with the “death of friction, danger, personality” in the current music scene and commended Healy for being “something other than beige”. Williams also empathised with the fear of cancellation that plagues the industry, explaining how that could inevitably lead to safe and dull music. Healy has been at the centre of numerous controversies in recent years, from his onstage criticism of the Malaysian government’s anti-LGBTQ laws to his recent comments on Asians that sparked backlash from Rina Sawayama.
Despite the controversy, The 1975 have continued to make music and are reportedly already working on a new album. Healy himself has apologised for any harm he may have caused while trying to portray the character role of a “21st Century rock star”.Nevertheless, he believes that it is better to be a “pretend supervillain than some pretend hero”. Healy’s comments reflect his frustration with the current state of the music industry, one that he believes values liberal academics over true outsiders.
For now, Williams hopes to incorporate some of Healy’s energy into his own musical life. He plans to “take the piss again” and wants to be more willing to offend while creating music that has more personality and danger. While some may question the value of causing controversy in the industry, Williams and Healy seem to agree that it’s necessary to keep music fresh and exciting.
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