Wait…Did The UK Government Just Steal From The 1975?!
23 May 2016, 11:31 | Updated: 8 May 2017, 17:09
A new video has got the band very angry. We explain Matty's twitter rant in full.
Last night (May 22nd) saw mop-haired Mancunian and The 1975 frontman Matty Healy take to Twitter for an epic rant of near-Kanye proportions against the UK government.
How do you sue the Government??
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 22, 2016
Interscope, YouTube
Why? Let's back up a second and explain.
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ICYMI, the UK is currently debating whether or not they should stay within the European Union, a REALLY complicated process that will result in a public vote at the end of June. This debate is known as "The Brexit" (British Exit).
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How does this involve The 1975? Well, The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is leading the campaign to stay within the EU and recently sent out a promotional leaflet that looked oddly familiar...
'LOOK OUT KIDZ THE GOVERNMENT ARE STEALING OUR THOUGHTS!!' @UKParliament pic.twitter.com/Zc8lyReYrn
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 17, 2016
Yep, it looks like the government have been taking some inspiration from The 1975's imagery used in their recent album campaign shot by David Drake.
The 1975
Cut to Sunday night and the band's manager Jamie Oborne discovered an accompanying promotional video for the government that again uses the exact aesthetic from the album.
You can watch it below:
What the actual fuck?!?! https://t.co/uhC7jyLFNg
— Jamie Oborne (@jamieoborne) May 22, 2016
So for comparison - this is The 1975:
if this ain't me.....
— joe (@teenghostboy) April 16, 2016
(The 1975: Neon Signs by David Drake) pic.twitter.com/MKB8jXrRmT
And this is from the EU video:
iloveadamhann.tumblr.com
Even worse, the campaign promo was directed by Nadia Marquad Otzen of Academy Films, who previously directed the band's "Settle Down" video.
This is true and we cannot believe it so disappointed. @AcademyFilms WTF?!?! https://t.co/VvJjDwNRSs
— Jamie Oborne (@jamieoborne) May 22, 2016
Safe to say, Matty was upset.
Interscope, YouTube
Oi @David_Cameron come up with your own visual identity you toff prat. You should know better even if you are a MASSIVE Tory
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 22, 2016
You can't imbue my identity as an artist with something as divisive as The @eureferendum it's totally totally taking the piss @AcademyFilms
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 22, 2016
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 22, 2016
Actually @David_Cameron if you wanna make a fire mixtape that would actually be sick i know you're already feeling our vibe hmu
— matty (@Truman_Black) May 22, 2016
But, while many fans have been on side with the band, there have been a few dissenting voices who feel Matty has little right to complain.
someone should probably let the lads from the 1975 know they didn't invent neon lights
— Owen (@Owen_Ferris) May 23, 2016
Oh Lord, just seen the 1975 comments. Does he really think he invented neon signs?! Absolutely ridiculous
— Mia (@UnfamiliarMia) May 23, 2016
To think that the inventor of neon went forward in time to steal the idea from the bloke from the 1975. Disgusting.
— louis heidensohn (@louisheidensohn) May 22, 2016
No one can use neon ever again. It's banned. Matty from The 1975 owns it all now.
— JF (@James_FIynn) May 22, 2016
Surely though there is a difference between simply using Neon lights and using the exact same imagery as the band? The video is extraordinarily similar to the exact colour scheme and filmic style The 1975 have been using and developing since the end of 2015. Plus the director's past connection to the band would dispel any assumption that she had simply never heard of the group.
Academy films have yet to comment on the situation.
What do you guys think? Is the video too similar to The 1975 or is it just a coincidence?
Interscope, YouTube
Let us know below.
