The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has said that he doesn’t ‘like feeling in competition’ with Arctic Monkeys, but believes that his are ‘the band of this decade’.

Healy, whose band are on course for their third number one album with the acclaimed ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships‘, was talking to Matt Wilkinson for his Beats 1 radio show, when he was quizzed about being the biggest band in Britain and having their success measured to that of the Monkeys.

“Yeah Arctic Monkeys have got a couple of albums on us,” he replied. “I don’t like feeling in competition with Arctic Monkeys because I don’t feel old enough, I don’t feel like we’ve paid our dues as much as Arctic Monkeys… It’s difficult – we’re not a rock band so it’s difficult.


“I was very obsessed with the decade. I like being ‘one of the defining bands of the decade’… Cos if you look at it, I’d say the Smiths were the band of the ’80s, I’d say the ’90s… I’d have to say Oasis – even though I’d choose Radiohead.”

Healy added: “I’d say the band of the 2000s was Arctic Monkeys and I’d say the band of this decade has been my band. But of course I would.”

The interview also saw Healy respond to comparisons between their new album ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships‘ and Radiohead‘s classic ‘OK Computer’, while also teasing that they could headline Glastonbury festival in 2020.

Last night saw The 1975 play an intimate album launch show at London’s Camden Barfly.


Reviewing the ‘punk spirit’ of the show, NME concluded: “‘A Brief Inquiry…’ cut ‘Be My Mistake’ is then performed to a totally hushed venue, completely unplugged and acoustic. It’s a beautiful and fitting end to a show that’s connected the past and present of The 1975 – a scatty, punk-y, oh-so-real return from one of pop music’s most brilliant bands.

“It might be the other end of the venue-size spectrum, but that January arena tour just got even more unmissable.”