Legal Responsibility Concerns
Legal representatives of 1975 contend that individual members of the group should not be held personally responsible for the controversial incident that resulted in the closure of the Good Vibes festival in Malaysia in 2023.
Ongoing Trials and Allegations
The group’s protection is being addressed in the ongoing trials by the organizers of the Future Sound Asia (FSA) festival, who are seeking 1.9 million pounds in losses after frontman Matti Hili and bassist Ross McDonald kissed on stage during their performance in Kuala Lumpur.
During the high court hearing, the group’s representative, Edmund Kallen, described the lawsuit as an “illegitimate, artificial, and inconsistent” effort to attribute responsibility to individuals. Kallen argued that it is “rather strange” to hold individual members accountable when the organizers formed a contract with the group.
FSA representative Andrew Burns countered, asserting that the artists “deliberately behaved in a manner that provoked the Malaysian authorities.” He pointed out that the group had previously agreed to specific performance guidelines in 2016, including restrictions on profanity, smoking, drinking, and discussions about religion and politics.
Berns further alleged that the group “smuggled” in content during their performance and created a “secondary set of songs” with the intent to “annoy and upset the Malaysian audience and authorities.” In a written statement, he claimed: “The group should be liable, as the losses resulted from their deliberate misconduct, which breached the express responsibilities for their personal behavior.”
In the midst of the incident, Hili addressed the crowd, stating: “I see no reason to invite 1975 to the country and then dictate who we can have sex with. I apologize if this offends you, especially if you are religious and part of your government, but your government is a bunch of damn R ***** s, and it no longer concerns me. If you come, I’m going to push off.”
The hearing is expected to conclude later today (February 19).
