Matty Healy says there are no ‘big bands’ doing ‘anything as interesting as’ The 1975

The frontman also discussed his battles with heroin addiction again in a new interview

Matty Healy has spoken about his views on The 1975‘s place in music, saying there are “no big bands doing anything as interesting as” his group.

The Manchester band are currently preparing to release their new album, ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships‘, later this year. They have shared two tracks – ‘Give Yourself A Try‘ and ‘Love It If We Made It‘ – from the record so far.

In a new interview with Billboard, Healy discussed the album and the band’s development. “There are no big bands who are doing anything as interesting as us right now,” he said. Pointing to the headline acts on Reading Festival’s line-up, he added: “Tell me dudes with guitars who are more relevant to do that slot.”

• The 1975’s ‘Love It If We Made It’ is on the NME Audio playlist. Click here for information on how to tune in to NME1 and NME2

When discussing his battles with heroin addiction, Healy again separated The 1975 from their peers, crediting being in “one of the most divisive, exciting bands in the world to make me stop doing drugs for a little bit at a time.”

The musician also explained that, while he felt a need to be honest about his drug use, he didn’t want to “fetishise it”. “It’s really dull and it’s really dangerous,” he said. “The thought of being to a young person what people like [William S.] Burroughs were to me when I was a teenager makes me feel ill.”

Meanwhile, The 1975 will release another new album following ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ next year. ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’ will arrive in May, according to Healy.