UK judge rules The 1975 band members not liable in Good Vibes Festival lawsuit

A UK judge has ruled that individual members of The 1975 cannot be personally sued for the cancellation of Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival 2023.

Organiser Future Sound Asia (FSA) was seeking US$2,4 million in damages, but Judge William Hansen decided that only the band’s company, The 1975 Productions LLP, could be sued.

In addition, he ordered FSA to pay US$126,000 in legal costs.

The controversy began when lead singer Matty Healy criticised Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQIA+ laws during the band’s performance.

Healy told the crowd, “Unfortunately, you don’t get a set of uplifting songs because I’m fucking furious, and that’s not fair on you, because you’re not representative of your government.”

He then kissed bassist Ross MacDonald on stage in protest.

The incident led Malaysian authorities to cancel the festival immediately, leaving fans disappointed and demanding refunds.

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FSA’s lawsuit argued that The 1975 knowingly violated Malaysian laws and their contract by defying local performance regulations.

The festival’s lawyer, Andrew Burns, claimed the band had agreed to follow the rules but instead “deliberately provoked Malaysian authorities” by smuggling a bottle of wine on stage, making an “obscene speech,” and performing what he described as a “second-rate set of songs”.

He also revealed that Malaysian authorities had initially hesitated to approve the band’s performance due to concerns about Healy’s past drug use.

The band’s lawyer, Edmund Cullen, dismissed the claim as “illegitimate, artificial, and incoherent,” arguing that FSA only had a contract with The 1975’s company, not its individual members.

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Judge Hansen agreed with Edmund, stating there was “no good reason why the matter should go to trial” against Healy and the other musicians, though the case against The 1975 Productions LLP is still ongoing.

Following the Good Vibes incident, Malaysia blacklisted the band from performing in the country.

The festival, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, has faced ongoing challenges since the incident—its 2024 edition was also cancelled three weeks before the event due to a scheduling conflict with a royal ceremony.

The lawsuit against The 1975 Productions LLP remains unresolved.

Via: South China Morning Post

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.

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