Malaysia Festival Organizer Demands $2.7 Million USD in Damages From The 1975

Good Vibes Festival organizer Future Sounds Asia is seeking $2.7 million USD in damages from The 1975 after the band’s performance that resulted in the event’s cancellation.

According to reports, the legal team of Future Sounds Asia accused the British band of breaching their contract in a letter addressed August 8. The letter is demanding The 1975 to compensate for the organizer’s losses after the rest of the three-day event was cancelled due to a controversial move by frontman Matty Healy. “They entered into a binding contract with Future Sound Asia to perform and the position of Future Sound Asia, among others, is that this contractual obligation was breached,” Future Sound Asia attorney David Matthew wrote in a statement provided to Variety. “Further, Mr. Healy’s representative categorically provided a pre-show written assurance that Mr. Healy and The 1975’s live performance ‘shall adhere to all local guidelines and regulations’ during their set in Malaysia. Unfortunately, the assurance was ignored.”

Matthew added, “[The 1975’s] actions have had repercussions on local artists and small businesses, who relied on the festival for creative opportunities and their livelihoods.”

The band performed on the first night and publicly criticized the country’s LGBTQ laws, with Healy calling them “f*cking ridiculous” and sharing an elongated kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald. Their set was cut shortly after and the rest of the festival, which was also set to feature The Strokes’s first ever show in Malaysia, was cancelled by the country’s Ministry of Communications and Digital.

Elsewhere in music, The Weeknd revealed that he is no longer doing any features.