Looking back: “We had the energy of a puppy. You can see it in our eyes'
James Bourne and Matt Willis formed Busted in their bedrooms in Southend as teenagers. After recruiting Charlie Simpson to lead the band, they grew into a multimillion-selling pop punk trio until 2005, when Simpson announced his departure. He then launched Fightstar, while Bourne wrote for artists such as McFly and the Vamps, and Willis became an actor and won I'm A Celebrity in 2006. Since 2016, Busted has released two albums, Night Driver and Half Way There. They're touring in September and continue to release reworked versions of classic tracks, with Loser Kid 2.0 (feat Simple Plan) out April 14.
Matt (center photo)In 2002, I was quite puzzled. My only ambition was to play a gig at Chinnerys in Southend, so anything extra felt overwhelming. I was uncomfortable in front of the camera and could never smile. Instead, I became the wacky type. It was easier than being myself.
I wouldn't say James was a jerk when we first met, but he was a little childish, in a good way. I took him to my local pub and he was pretty weird - he was way too innocent. When I met Charlie, I remember thinking, "Wow, he talks like the queen!" He was really tall but he was stooped. I wondered if he was unsure of his height, as he always kept his head down. He was also wearing those ridiculous bell bottoms that I loved.
At first no one took me and James seriously because we were just two weirdos, then this handsome Guy Charlie came along and we signed right away. We were fractured early on. It's because Charlie stepped into something that was already done - the whole album was written. Before we knew it, we were on the cover of Smash Hits. I was delighted. But Charlie was never in this world, so he was unhappy. Part of me wanted to say, "Can we just enjoy it?" Can't our moment suck please?"
Even the night we won two Brits we were apart. We all had girlfriends we were all living this crazy reality separately We should have talked about Charlie's annoyance right away but every time it came up someone on our team would say 'well let's not do it' because we were earning so much money for everyone. Nobody wanted to rock the boat until it was too late.
Towards the end, I was drinking and consuming a lot, but I was very functional so no one knew I was the last one up, first on the tour bus in the morning It didn't interfere with anything until the end of the band and I had too many money and time - the worst things for a drug addict. Now I've had so many rehabs that I've become the caring uncle of the group: "How's everyone? Everyone is well ? It's boring, but it works, and we're closer than ever.
James (left)It was such a magical moment - everyone knew who we were. were and it felt like Busted was taking over. We had a crazy stylist called Mr Gammon who made bespoke clothes for our shoots, and we had that puppy energy – you can see it in our eyes. Now we have that 20 year old energy.
Matt and I met when we were 16 trying to make some money. We auditioned for a TV show and then a band. Soon after, we started writing songs. I thought it was funny that I made music with this naughty boy, because I was a good boy. But Matt was really nice and the musical connection kept our friendship strong, even though we probably wouldn't have been friends otherwise. As for Charlie, my first impressions were that he was the classiest person I had ever met. He was also very friendly.
Busted was a resounding success. We would visit record labels and play our songs and jump up and down. They all wanted to sign us, and we got huge record and publishing deals before selling a single record. We lived in a hotel in Hyde Park and had everything paid for by this American manager who believed in us. Me and Matt used to get drunk in Piccadilly. One night we met a homeless man who was our age. It was very cold, so we invited him to the hotel and I slept on the sofa. We never saw him again.
James Bourne and Matt Willis formed Busted in their bedrooms in Southend as teenagers. After recruiting Charlie Simpson to lead the band, they grew into a multimillion-selling pop punk trio until 2005, when Simpson announced his departure. He then launched Fightstar, while Bourne wrote for artists such as McFly and the Vamps, and Willis became an actor and won I'm A Celebrity in 2006. Since 2016, Busted has released two albums, Night Driver and Half Way There. They're touring in September and continue to release reworked versions of classic tracks, with Loser Kid 2.0 (feat Simple Plan) out April 14.
Matt (center photo)In 2002, I was quite puzzled. My only ambition was to play a gig at Chinnerys in Southend, so anything extra felt overwhelming. I was uncomfortable in front of the camera and could never smile. Instead, I became the wacky type. It was easier than being myself.
I wouldn't say James was a jerk when we first met, but he was a little childish, in a good way. I took him to my local pub and he was pretty weird - he was way too innocent. When I met Charlie, I remember thinking, "Wow, he talks like the queen!" He was really tall but he was stooped. I wondered if he was unsure of his height, as he always kept his head down. He was also wearing those ridiculous bell bottoms that I loved.
At first no one took me and James seriously because we were just two weirdos, then this handsome Guy Charlie came along and we signed right away. We were fractured early on. It's because Charlie stepped into something that was already done - the whole album was written. Before we knew it, we were on the cover of Smash Hits. I was delighted. But Charlie was never in this world, so he was unhappy. Part of me wanted to say, "Can we just enjoy it?" Can't our moment suck please?"
Even the night we won two Brits we were apart. We all had girlfriends we were all living this crazy reality separately We should have talked about Charlie's annoyance right away but every time it came up someone on our team would say 'well let's not do it' because we were earning so much money for everyone. Nobody wanted to rock the boat until it was too late.
Towards the end, I was drinking and consuming a lot, but I was very functional so no one knew I was the last one up, first on the tour bus in the morning It didn't interfere with anything until the end of the band and I had too many money and time - the worst things for a drug addict. Now I've had so many rehabs that I've become the caring uncle of the group: "How's everyone? Everyone is well ? It's boring, but it works, and we're closer than ever.
James (left)It was such a magical moment - everyone knew who we were. were and it felt like Busted was taking over. We had a crazy stylist called Mr Gammon who made bespoke clothes for our shoots, and we had that puppy energy – you can see it in our eyes. Now we have that 20 year old energy.
Matt and I met when we were 16 trying to make some money. We auditioned for a TV show and then a band. Soon after, we started writing songs. I thought it was funny that I made music with this naughty boy, because I was a good boy. But Matt was really nice and the musical connection kept our friendship strong, even though we probably wouldn't have been friends otherwise. As for Charlie, my first impressions were that he was the classiest person I had ever met. He was also very friendly.
Busted was a resounding success. We would visit record labels and play our songs and jump up and down. They all wanted to sign us, and we got huge record and publishing deals before selling a single record. We lived in a hotel in Hyde Park and had everything paid for by this American manager who believed in us. Me and Matt used to get drunk in Piccadilly. One night we met a homeless man who was our age. It was very cold, so we invited him to the hotel and I slept on the sofa. We never saw him again.
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