Chorus of disapproval
After eco-warrior rockers team up with Greta and donate to Extinction Rebellion, MP jibes: Is your world tour by train or yacht?
they’re the achingly hip rock band with a passion for saving the planet.
And so keen are the 1975 to prove their eco- credentials, they’ve recorded a track with 16-year- old climate change activist Greta thunberg.
they even promised to give the proceeds to extinction rebellion, the environmental protest group which has brought city centres to a standstill.
But the band was accused of hypocrisy last night over their world tour transport plans. A tory MP was embroiled in a furious spat with members – saying their eco-posturing was incompatible with the decision to fly across the globe. David Davies, the MP for Monmouth, posted a letter on twitter questioning if the band would travel via train and boats instead of using aircraft that churn out tonnes of carbon pollution.
the Manchester group’s tour started in Milan last night and countries on the itinerary include Ireland, South Korea, hong Kong, the Philippines, thailand, Singapore, Paris and the United States. In his letter, ‘to the 1975’, Mr Davies wrote: ‘Given your concern about a “climate emergency”, I just wondered how you are going to get to these places?
‘Are you travelling to Asia on the trans-Siberian express? Or will you be sailing in a £4million super-yacht like your mate Greta? Do tell us. We must silence any mean-minded sceptics who think it’s a tad hypocritical to preach on the evils of carbon emissions one minute – then jet across the globe the next!
‘In any case, there may be a “climate emergency” but any reasonable person can see that wealthy musicians being unable to fly where and when they want, to play gigs, would be a far greater emergency.’ Mr Davies added in a PS: ‘Are you going to be asking extinction rebellion to block roads in the cities when you play so that we can be certain nobody drives to one of your concerts by car?’
the band’s manager hit back at
‘It’s a tad hypocritical’
Mr Davies, accusing him of seeking five minutes of fame. Jamie Oborne replied on twitter: ‘So Parliament is suspended at the most important time in modern UK politics and the most pressing issue on this clown’s mind is looking for clout on twitter. enjoy your 5 minutes.’
Members of the band, which headlined reading and Leeds Festivals last week, have yet to reply to Mr Davies. But in a recent interview with music magazine the NMe, lead singer Matty healy admitted it was ‘difficult to be 100 per cent bulletproof with climate change’.
And he said it would be ‘impractical for touring’ to spend two weeks on a yacht sailing across the Atlantic as Miss thunberg recently did in order to reach America for a UN summit.
healy added: ‘I think the 1975 getting on a commercial plane to go to a country to try and spread a positive message is not going to be the reason that the world sets on fire... I’d much rather be called a champagne socialist than be an artist that isn’t talking about the most pressing issue on the planet.’
the singer, who said he uses an electric scooter and electric bike instead of a car in the UK, said the band offsets carbon emissions by banning plastic on tour. the fourpiece band are often joined by two additional musicians and two backing vocalists for live performances. After playing in Ireland tomorrow, their next gig is in Songpa-gu, South Korea on Friday.
the tour ends on December 13 in Indianapolis in the US. A return trip from London to Seoul in South Korea carries a carbon footprint of 3.5 tons of CO2 per passenger.
the band could be accompanied by an entourage of up to 30, including lighting specialists, tour manager, stage manager, video crew and set carpenters.