As Matty Healy prepares to headline Glastonbury, his mum Denise Welch will be proudly watching on, years after their relationship was tested by depression and addiction

The 1975 star pictured with his mother, Denise Welch(Image: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Matty Healy is preparing to do what he does best – command a stage and stir up headlines. The 1975 frontman will lead the band through a highly anticipated Pyramid Stage set tonight, performing in front of thousands of fans. But among the sea of faces, there’s one he’ll be looking for; proud mum, Loose Women star Denise Welch, watching from the side lines.

Appearing on Loose Women, Denise shared her excitement, saying: “For those who don’t know, my son is the lead singer for The 1975 and they are headlining Glastonbury on Friday. Obviously, I’m an incredibly proud mum.

Denise reflects on the start of the band on Loose Women(Image: Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

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“You’ve got to remember the band has been together for 23 years. They started in our garage as 12 and 13-year-old boys. Some of the songs they’ll be playing, Matty was writing at 15 and 16,” she added, before admitting she still doesn’t know all the lyrics.

Despite not being a festival person, Denise joked she’ll be there to cheer her son on though “as VIP as possible.”

The family dealt with a lot causing a strain on their bond(Image: Mirrorpix)

Their bond is stronger than ever now, but it wasn’t always this way. Denise has spoken candidly about her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, and the impact it had on her family.

“I did lots of things wrong. Matty and I had to have a come-to-Jesus about the things I was in denial about how my behaviour had impacted him,” she shared. “But he also said, ‘Then again, Mum, if our house wasn’t a bit rock and roll, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing’.”

Denise also opened up about suffering postnatal depression after Matty was born. Just days after bonding with her newborn, she spiralled into panic attacks and numbness.

“I couldn’t love anything. I felt nothing,” she recalled. “I didn’t hate the child, I didn’t want anything to happen to him. It was just like, why is this child here?”

With the support of her own mother, she was eventually able to rebuild that connection. Years later, Matty would write She Lays Down, a song inspired by her experience.

Denise regularly posts her sons on social media(Image: denise_welch/Instagram)

“I told him when he was older that depression robbed me of the ability to love, and I used to lay down on the bedroom floor and pray for the ability to love my children again,” she said.

These days, Denise regularly shares her pride for Matty and the band, reflecting on how far they’ve come – from teenage gigs in their garage to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. And after everything they’ve faced together, their bond is stronger than ever, with Denise cheering the loudest from the VIP section as her son takes his biggest stage yet.