Matt Healy will donate £25,000 of prize money to charity if The 1975 win the 2016 Mercury Prize.
The ‘Love Me’ hitmakers have been shortlisted as finalists for their 2016 LP ‘I like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It’ and if they win their lead singer has very altruistic plans for the cash.
Speaking at the launch of the 25th annual awards ceremony at London’s Langham Hotel on Thursday (04.08.16), he said: "We’d give it to charity. We’d give it to charity, and have a lovely meal."
However, he was less philanthropic in his plans for the gong itself, as he plans to take it home and not share it with his bandmates Adam Hann, George Daniel and Ross MacDonald.
When asked what he’ll keep it, he replied: "The award? I’m having it."
The 27-year-old rocker – who is the son of actress Denise Welch and her ex-husband Tim Healy – said just to be nominated is "humbling" especially alongside so many great artists including the late David Bowie and fellow rockers Radiohead.
He explained: "We’ve not really been awarded in that way before, and it’s amazing. I keep saying it, but it feels really humbling just to be invited alongside all of these artists."
However, the hunky rock star insists they don’t aim for this kind of recognition when making albums.
He said: "It’s not something we really thought about. We just went away and wanted to make a really pure record. We weren’t thinking about press or critics, and I think that’s what’s been recognised."
The six finalists and the overall winner will be announced at the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize ceremony held on September 15 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.
The ceremony will feature live performances from the shortlisted artists and will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner of the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize for ‘Album of the Year’.
The online vote is now open, which will enable music fans to select the first of six 2016 finalists from the 12 ‘Albums of the Year’. To vote visit www.mercuryprize.com
Matt Healy will donate Mercury Prize money to charity if they win
