KUALA LUMPUR: The organiser of the Good Vibes Festival (GVF) has initiated a lawsuit against British pop rock band The 1975 and each of its members individually, following a controversial stunt by the band during last year's festival, here.
In a court document sighted by Australia's Variety Media, the organiser, Future Sound Asia, is seeking RM11.25 million (US$2.4 million) in compensation after a stunt pulled by the frontman, Matty Healy, resulted in the festival being shut down.
The organiser also said The 1975 had previously performed at the festival in 2016, and had been informed of the regulations governing live performances in Malaysia, at the time.
In its lawsuit, the organiser also said that the band was repeatedly reminded of the regulations ahead of their performance, last year.
This included prohibition on swearing, smoking, and drinking on stage, and political or religious commentaries.
The filing further stated that the band, which had been paid more than RM12.3 million, had agreed to the regulations imposed by the Central Agency for Application for Filming and Performances by Foreign Artistes (Puspal), which included bans on kissing, kissing members of the audience, or carrying out such actions among themselves.
It also said that Puspal had initially rejected the band's application to perform last year, following previous articles about Healy's drug addiction, but the agency relented after an appeal, and assurances to abide by the regulations, were made by the band.
The filing further claimed that the band had decided not to perform the night before the festival, had changed its set list, and had acted in a way intended to breach the regulations, including planning to smuggle alcohol on stage.
It added that Healy allegedly behaved aggressively towards one of the Puspal officers when ordered to stop performing.
Variety also reported that the band has yet to file a defence, while a representative declined to comment.
GVF was cut short last year after Healy, during the band's performance, launched into a profanity-laden tirade directed at the government, and criticised Malaysia's position on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lifestyle.
Healy was also seen performing while holding a bottle of wine, lighting a cigarette, and spitting on stage, as well as saying that he was not in the mood to perform, in between songs.
The band was then served a seven-day notice by the organiser to pay more than RM12.3 million in damages for intentional breach of contract.