Formation of the band

In 2002, at Wilmslow High School , guitarist Adam Hann recruited Matty Healy to be the drummer in a band he was forming with bassist Ross MacDonald. Hann wanted to start a band because a local council worker had begun organising gigs for teenagers and he wanted to play at one. When the band’s prospective singer, Elliott Williams (now of Editors ), dropped out after one rehearsal, Healy took over vocal duties, playing double duty as lead vocalist and drummer. He eventually gave up drumming to George Daniel , later recalling that meeting Daniel “changed his life”. Daniel describes his first impression of Healy as “the most outwardly passionate person in school—endearing, and intimidating.” The quartet began as a band playing covers of punk and emo songs at school and at Healy’s house before eventually writing their own material.