The Busted boys are back and they’re heading for Surrey. Songwriter James Bourne talks to Kasia Maynard about reunion, race nights and fan power
The flag is raised, the going is good and, for fans of one long-lost band, it’s odds-on for a night of nostalgic pleasure: pop rockers Busted are back on track and preparing to wow Sandown Park.
Non-runners since 2005, the trio – who achieved four number one singles and a total of five million album sales during their initial five-year career – reunited earlier this year for a UK tour, Pigs Can Fly. This month they head to the Esher course for An Evening at the Races: competitive equine action with a musical finale from one of the Noughties’ most successful bands.
You can bet they’ll be there early too – and not just for the soundcheck.
“Whenever we play at this kind of stuff, we always have a bet on the horses,” admits James Bourne, principal songwriter and guitarist.
Be that as it may, the concert itself is looking like a guaranteed winner. It may be over a decade since James, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson sold out Wembley Arena for 11 consecutive nights, but the rejuvenated trio still have plenty of stardust to sprinkle on the racegoing crowd.
“We will definitely be playing the old classics because that’s what people look forward to hearing,” says James, stirring fond memories of hits such as What I Go to School For, Crashed the Wedding and Year 3000.
“However, we also have new music, so we’ll be introducing that gently as well. It’s different from the previous songs; the sound has evolved a bit. Some of the songs we want to put out are not initially recognisable as Busted. But then, because it’s us singing them, you begin to see how they relate to our earlier stuff. They don’t sound as if they belong on a completely different set list.”
Pigs Can Fly Tour
All of which would have seemed a distant dream during Busted’s wilderness years, when thoughts of a reunion had seemingly been struck from the menu. James used the time away to reignite his passion for musicals, teaming up with celebrated writer and composer Elliot Davis to create two successful shows: Loserville and Out There. There was also a solo project under the alias of ‘Future Boy’, plus songs written for other acts including old friends McFly.
By contrast, Matt Willis placed his musical career on temporary hold to be crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ on the 2006 series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Then, in 2008, he married television presenter and former model Emma Griffiths, with whom he now has three children. And two years ago he turned his attention to acting, enjoying a short stint as Luke Riley in EastEnders.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t think we’d ever get back together,” reflects James. “I had made peace with the fact that it was over. I’d moved away to New York and I wasn’t ever coming back to England. Ever. I just got my Green Card and moved away.
“Then, a couple of years ago, Matt and I played at a McFly show and the reaction was super positive.”
So much so, in fact, that the duo and McFly continued to collaborate, the principal fruit being an album and tour as McBusted. Speculation about a full Busted renaissance became rife.
The obstacle was Charlie Simpson, whose creative disenchantment had been pivotal to the split. His success with post-hardcore band Fightstar was later followed by a solo career which, to date, has yielded two Top 10 albums, leaving Simpson adamant that he would never return to Busted. James and Matt, however, had other ideas.
“We started going round to Charlie’s house to discuss the idea and he gradually become more into it,” recalls James. “We knew that, if we went ahead, we would all have to be happy about the way it was done.”
The boys back together
The power of persuasion prevailed.
“It’s a lot like old times now. Really exciting. What’s great is that it feels like we’re just starting out, while in reality our foundations are already laid. It’s bizarre, but very cool.
“First time around, the experience was like a tornado. It was just very fast. Everything happened so quickly that we didn’t really have much time to stop and think about it. You are sort of in the eye of the storm, and it’s not until you’re out of it that you suddenly have time to reflect.”
So, are Busted back for the long term?
“I think, with Busted, you never know,” laughs James. “You never want to think about it that way. You just have to do your best with opportunities when you have them.”
It is the fans, he insists, who will make or break the second coming of Busted.
“There’s no smoke without fire – and, in this case, the band is the smoke and the fans are the fire. It is entirely down to them that we’re back at all.”
For now though, the prophecy is fulfilled. ‘True love lasts forever/And now we’re back together,’ sang Busted in Crashed the Wedding. That may not last until the Year 3000, but as the Sandown Park gig approaches, it’s safe to say that the lads are well and truly back in their stride.
An Evening at the Races is at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher on July 20. Gates open 4pm; first race 6pm; last race 8.50pm. Tickets from £40 (adult) and £20 (child under 18, must be accompanied by an adult). To book: sandown.thejockeyclub.co.uk
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