The 1975 Working on New Album; Cancels All 2021 Tour Dates Due to Logistical Uncertainty

Back in May, English pop/rock/experimental band The 1975 added to its prolific young career with Notes on a Conditional Form, an ambitious new album that saw the group pushing the envelope of its musical expression even further.

Plans to tour in support of the album, of course, were scrapped as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the group initially eyeing made-up dates in 2021. On Tuesday, however, The 1975 issued a statement via social media that all 2021 touring plans have been cancelled.

“These are incredibly difficult times for a lot of people, and until we can be sure that we will be able to play shows in a way that is safe for our fans and crew, we have decided the best course of action is to cancel our touring so that, where possible, everyone can get their tickets refunded sooner rather than later.”

This is a gesture for fans that otherwise would be in the uncertain position of holding tickets to shows that could very well not have been performed in 2021.

Along with that notice came an update that the band, fronted by Matty Healy, is working on a new album.

The statement in full:

pic.twitter.com/zGivC3n0id

— The 1975 (@the1975) January 12, 2021

The 1975 was part of the lineup for the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival, which saw its entire 2020 show pushed back to 2021, but one has to assume this cancellation of shows includes that festival as well.

Notes on a Conditional Form was a dense creative statement for The 1975 in the massive scope of its ambition, as well as a winking nod to what came before — take the use of samples of songs by Christopher Cross and The Temptations, for example — and it will be intriguing to see in which direction the group moves with its next record.