Busted (band)
Busted | |
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![]() Logo of the band | |
Background information | |
Origin | Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2000–05, 2015–present |
Labels | |
Members | James Bourne Matt Willis Charlie Simpson |
Website | www.busted.com |
Busted are an English rock and synthrock band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson. Formed in 2000, the band had four UK number-one singles, released two studio albums, Busted (2002) and A Present for Everyone (2003), one compilation album and one live album before breaking up in January 2005 following Simpson's decision to pursue a career fronting alternative rock band Fightstar. They have also won two Brit Awards[1] and won The Record of the Year in 2004 with their single "Thunderbirds",[2] amongst other awards. Busted have sold over 5 million albums worldwide.
In November 2013, Willis and Bourne announced plans to tour together with McFly as the supergroup McBusted in 2014, and this continued into 2015. On 10 November 2015, it was revealed that Simpson had rejoined Busted after successful secret writing sessions. The band also announced they would embark on a UK and Ireland arena tour in 2016.[3]
On 3 May 2016, Busted released a single titled "Coming Home".[4]
History
2000–02: Formation, Busted and rise to fame
James Bourne and Matt Willis had been friends for a number of years and had written material together. Willis claimed that they had been inspired by Green Day, Blink-182 and BBMak.[5] Busted were formed in early 2000 and originally consisted of Bourne, Willis, Ki Fitzgerald and Owen Doyle, although this version of the band broke up later that year. Charlie Simpson and Tom Fletcher auditioned to be in the band and were both offered a place to complete the lineup.[6] 24 hours later, however, Busted's manager told Fletcher via a phone call that the band was to go ahead as a trio, comprising Bourne, Willis and Simpson.[7]
The band was launched in August 2002, making their first appearance on the cover of Smash Hits with the headline: "Meet Busted: They're Going to Be Bigger than Rik Waller!", making it a first for any pop band to appear on the magazine's cover before releasing a single.[8] Their debut single, "What I Go to School For", inspired by a teacher that Willis had a crush on at school, was finally released in September 2002. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Busted was then released, initially charting only around the UK Top 30 and receiving mixed reviews from critics. The follow-up "Year 3000", which was written about Bourne's obsession with the film Back to the Future, then followed in January 2003, reaching number two in the UK chart. In April, their third single, "You Said No" finally reached number one. British Hit Singles & Albums certified them as the first act ever to have their debut three singles enter the top three in an ascending order.[9]
Recording began for their second album while the debut album was re-released with new tracks and an enhanced CD section. It would go onto sell 1.2 million copies by the end of the year. The debut album's final single, "Sleeping with the Light On", reached number 3 in August 2003, beaten to number one by Blu Cantrell's "Breathe".[10]
2003–05: A Present for Everyone and split
Busted started the summer of 2003 with a win for Favourite Newcomer at the National Music Awards, as well as Best Band at that year's Disney Channel Kids' Awards. After this, the band launched the promotional trail for their new album, A Present for Everyone and its lead single "Crashed the Wedding", which reached number one in the UK chart. More edgy than their previous album, Simpson said that it had some "harder, Good Charlotte type vibes coming through on this album". This album would also go on to reach sales of over 1 million copies.
During 2003, Charlie met fellow songwriter-guitarist Alex Westaway and drummer Omar Abidi at a party. He was by this stage becoming increasingly frustrated by the music he was performing in Busted and stated he had "all of this creativity pent up inside and I just needed to vent it somewhere, and I was writing a lot of songs but I couldn't play them, because I didn't have anyone to play them with". During the aforementioned party, an impromptu jam session took place. Simpson, Westaway and Abidi played Rage Against the Machine's song "Killing in the Name" on loop, and agreed to attend a gig a few days later. After the show, they went back to Simpson's flat and began performing on guitars and a v-drum kit, which led to their first song being written, titled "Too Much Punch". Westaway later invited bassist Dan Haigh to practise with the band and soon began booking regular rehearsal sessions together, under the name Fightstar.
2004 was to prove their final year together as a band. The band performed a successful arena tour to start the year before reaching number one and number two with "Who's David" and "Air Hostess", respectively. The band picked up Best British Breakthrough Act and Best Pop Act at that year's BRIT Awards.[11]
The band then headed over to America to release a self-titled album that was a mixture of their first and second album. Their exploits were captured for the TV series America or Busted, about Busted's attempts to achieve success in the United States, which ultimately failed. The show debuted on MTV UK in November of that year, over the course of the series, it saw Busted's attempts to 'break' America dwindle as interviews fell through and performances remained limited both in terms of audience size and press attention.
Whilst the band were out in America, they were then invited to record the theme tune to the brand new Thunderbirds film that was coming out that summer. Released as a double A-side with the album track, "3AM", it gave them their fourth and final number one in August 2004, staying at the top for two weeks, the longest they had ever spent at the top. However, the release of the fifth single from their second album, "She Wants to Be Me" failed to chart due to its lone formats being a download and a limited edition pocket sized CD, both of which breached chart regulations at the time. Their live album, A Ticket for Everyone, was released in November peaked at number eleven. The band embarked on another sell-out tour that November, and Busted gained a record of the band to play the most consecutive sellout dates at Wembley Arena, eleven nights. At the end of 2004, Busted were involved in the UK number-one Christmas single,[12] Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"[13] with money raised helping to combat HIV and AIDS across Africa, famine relief in the Darfur region of Sudan and aid relief in many countries, such as Ethiopia.[12]
Simpson's time spent with Fightstar reportedly began to cause tensions within the band,[14] amplified when Fightstar announced a 14-date UK tour.[15] Simpson announced to Busted's manager on 24 December 2004 over a phone call that he was leaving the band to focus on Fightstar full-time.[16] On 13 January 2005, Busted's record label announced that a press conference was to be held at the Soho Hotel in London the following day.[17] The next day, the 14th, it was then announced that Busted were splitting up after Simpson's departure weeks before.[14][18]
In a interview with Kerrang! in November 2009, Simpson said, "It was a real fun thing to be doing, and I got on well with everyone I was doing it with, but on the other side, the music wasn't really fulfilling me. I have good memories of the time, because we were travelling the world and doing some amazing things, but then as far as self-fulfilment goes, it wasn't really doing a lot for me, so I have these mixed views when I look back. But there's no doubt that it was an amazing thing to do."[19]
2006–2012: Solo projects and bands
Charlie began pursuing a solo career after playing in Fightstar, a post-hardcore band which differs greatly from the sound of Busted.[20] They formed a year prior to Busted's splilt. To-date they have released one EP and four albums: They Liked You Better When You Were Dead,[21] Grand Unification,[22] One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours,[23] Be Human[24] and Behind the Devil's Back, all being released in both the UK and the US. They have also released an album of b-sides and rarities, "Alternate Endings".[25] Fightstar announced a hiatus at the beginning of 2010, stating that they were "taking some time off" to work on separate projects before regrouping to begin working a new record. After their 2014 reunion and 2015 album, Fightstar began to describe themselves as a "passion project" rather than a full time band, as the members focus on other projects. Simpson released a solo acoustic album called Young Pilgrim, which peaked at number 6 in the UK Albums Chart in 2011, followed by the 2014 album Long Road Home.
James went on to release music through pop band Son of Dork,[26] but is now pursuing a solo career under the name of Future Boy.[27] Bourne has also written songs for many artists, including Melanie C,[28] McFly,[29] JC Chasez,[30] Patrick Monahan,[31] and the Jonas Brothers. From 2007– 2008, he was one of the main songwriters for the ITV musical drama, Britannia High.[32]
After a brief stint in rehab after the Busted split,[33] Matt set up a solo career,[34] releasing singles in 2006 and 2007, "Up All Night", "Hey Kid", "Don't Let It Go to Waste", and "Crash" for the film Mr Bean's Holiday,[35] all except the latter of which were included on his album Don't Let It Go to Waste. Matt also appeared on, and was crowned winner of, the 2006 series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[36] After being dropped from his record label,[37] Willis has turned to presenting. So far he has presented at the Brit Awards[38] and more recently ITV2's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! alongside his wife, Emma,[39] the pair are due to get together again for E!, presenting the BAFTAs.[40] On Willis' Myspace, he has stated that he is currently writing with his new band, yet to be named.[41] From February to November 2012, Matt Willis starred as Fiyero in the musical Wicked in London's West End where he received mixed reviews. It 2013 he also appeared in West End Men with fellow musical star Lee Mead at the Vaudeville Theatre in London for a limited time.
In 2010, some sources suggested that, after a £1 million offer, Busted would reform for a tour and possibly a new album.[42] Charlie denied that he would return to Busted, stating, "I wish Matt and James all the best with their future projects but I want to make it unequivocally clear that I have no interest what-so-ever in re-joining Busted and I never will", but James wrote on his Twitter page, "I'll fucking get up and do it any time, any day, anywhere."[43]
2013–15: McBusted
From 19 to 22 September 2013, Matt and James made a surprise brief reunion as Busted when they joined McFly as special guests during the band's four 10th anniversary concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. They performed "Year 3000", "Air Hostess" and McFly's "Shine a Light" with McFly under the name 'McBusted'.[44] McFly and Busted have confirmed a 2014 tour together. Charlie said through Twitter that although he will not be joining James, Matt and McFly on tour in 2014, he wishes them the best of luck in the future.[45] McBusted released their debut album McBusted on 1 December 2014. They then embarked on another sold out UK tour.
2015–present: Simpson's return, comeback tour and third album
On 5 October 2015, The Sun rumoured that Simpson was set to rejoin Busted.[46] After this, a photo made its way around the internet that showed the three members of Busted silhouetted in front of a red background. Words appeared to be blurred out at the bottom of the image, but above that was the words "Join us for a special announcement Tuesday November 10th 2015." This implied that the band was reuniting, with further speculation that the three would embark on a reunion tour together. On 10 November 2015, Busted announced a thirteen-date arena tour in the UK and Ireland would take place in May 2016.[47] At the same press conference Busted announced their third studio album.[48] 100,000 tickets were sold in the first hour of being put on sale. Subsequent tour dates were added as a result of high demand.[49]
Regarding his decision to rejoin the band, Simpson told Newsbeat: "I reckon I said it [so many times], privately and publicly, and I meant it every single time. But as I say I have changed my mind and that has been down to the circumstances changing. I never thought we would get to a point where we were in a studio writing music we all got behind creatively and that was a huge shock to me."[50]
In early 2016, Busted recorded their third studio album in Los Angeles. On 17 March 2016, Bourne told a fan on Twitter that Busted would decide the release date for their third album that day.[51] It is scheduled for release in the Autumn. The band have also insisted that their reunion is for the long-term; as Bourne told Digital Spy, "We want this to be something that is ongoing. Anything we write now goes towards album four."[52] On 4 April 2016, Busted announced that their tour would be called the Pigs Can Fly Tour 2016 and would include Wheatus and Emma Blackery as special guests. Regarding the title, Willis told Newsbeat, "The whole pigs can fly thing sums up how we feel about this. There have been times that we thought Busted could never, ever possibly happen and we were quite right in thinking that. But this summarises that anything is possible."[53] In an interview with Digital Spy, the band revealed that their fans will get a taste of their new sound before their reunion tour, and that their eleventh single will be released in the summer, and their album with follow in the autumn.
On 25 April 2016, it was officially announced that popular YouTube drummer Cobus Potgieter would be touring with the band.[54] On 3 May, Busted released "Coming Home", their first new song for 12 years, as a free download from their website.[55]
Legacy
Busted have been cited as influences for The Vamps[56] and 5 Seconds of Summer.[57]
Band members
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Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/20mq10e7ojjhvcbejfrv063qs1eb2ft.png)
Discography
- Studio albums
- Busted (2002)
- A Present for Everyone (2003)
- TBA (2016)
Tours
- Busted: Tour (2002)
- Busted: A Ticket for Everyone (2004)
- Busted: Pigs Can Fly (2016)
References
- ^ "Busted Confirm Split". NME. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ "Busted scoop Record of the Year". BBC News. 4 December 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ "Busted announce reunion tour and new music for 2016". BBC Online. BBC. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "James Bourne - Twitter". 3 May 2016. Retrieved 03 May 2016.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "The Vault Meets Matt Willis". YouTube. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ Cabooter, James (30 April 2014). "Tom Fletcher on why McBusted have something special with their supergroup". Daily Star. Northern & Shell. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ ""McBusted On The Jonathan Ross Show Series 6 Ep 8.22 Feb 2014 Part 4/4". YouTube. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Wright, Jade (14 April 2014). "McBusted at Liverpool ECHO arena: McFly and Busted had no idea how big they would become". Liverpool Echo. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Warner, Sam (18 November 2013). "10 Things About... McBusted". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Cantrell, Cassidy Maintain U.K. Chart Control". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 18 August 2003. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ "Two awards for Busted at the Brits". BBC News. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Band Aid 20 single storms to No 1". BBC News. 5 December 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "McCartney confirms Band Aid role". BBC News. 5 November 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ a b "Boy band Busted decide to split". BBC News. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "Fightstar tour; Busted don't". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "BUSTED – SIMPSON: 'I'D QUIT BUSTED IN AN INSTANT'". Contact Music. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "Busted Press Conference on Friday". PopDirt. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "Boy band Busted split". London: Daily Mail. 13 January 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ "This is who I am Orange Exclusive". Kerrang!. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ "Fightstar Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
- ^ "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead Ep ~ Fightstar". Amazon. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Grand Unification ~ Fightstar". Amazon. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "One Day Son This Will Be Yours ~ Fightstar". Amazon. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Be Human ~ Fightstar". Amazon. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Alternate Endings ~ Fightstar". Amazon. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Myspace: Son of Dork". MySpace. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Myspace: Future Boy". Myspace. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Melanie C – This Time (CD, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "McFly star wants to write for other artists". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "MySpace.com Blogs – JC Chasez – Happy Halloween!". Myspace. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Facebook – Pat Monahan Info". Facebook. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Ex-Busted Members Seek £10million in Royalties". PopSugar. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ "Matt Willis "fine" after rehab stint". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Busted's Matt Willis to go solo". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Crash [single] ~ Matt Willis". Amazon. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Matt crowned 'King of the Jungle'". BBC News. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Busted – Willis dropped by Record Label". Contact Music. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Matt Willis Celebrity Grilling". Now Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Matt Willis To Present I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here Now!". UnrealityTV. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "Ex-Busted Members Seek £10million in Royalties". Pop Sugar. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ "MySpace.com Blogs – Matt Willis – new band". MySpace. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
- ^ Wightmana, Catriona. "Matt Willis hoping for Busted reunion?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ "Charlie Simpson: I have no interest re-joining Busted". idiomag. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (20 September 2013). "Busted join McFly on stage at Royal Albert Hall show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ^ Simpson, Charlie (11 November 2013). "Twitter / charliesimo: Just wanted to say that though I am not joining @mattjwillis and @JamesBourne on their new venture, I wish them all the very best with it!". Twitter. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ Sandwell, Ian (6 October 2015). "Move over McBusted - Busted are re-forming as Charlie Simpson is set for a shock return". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ^ James (10 November 2015). "Charlie Simpson Rejoins Busted". Kerrang!. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Hawkes, Rebecca (10 November 2015). "Busted set to return with live tour - and Charlie Simpson". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Tamara Hardingham-Gill (13 November 2015). "Busted announce brand new tour dates after selling 100,000 tickets in an hour". Metro. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ "How Charlie Simpson came round to a Busted reunion". Newsbeat. BBC Online. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ https://twitter.com/JamesBourne/status/710378839487225857
- ^ Corner, Lewis (4 April 2016). "Busted are back for good, not just for a one-off reunion: 'It's a new chapter'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "Busted reveal Emma Blackery and Wheatus will join their UK tour". Newsbeat. BBC Online. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ Smith, Carl (25 April 2016). "Busted announce Cobus as their Pigs Can Fly Tour drummer". sugarscape.com. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
- ^ McVey, Adam (3 May 2016). "Busted drop brand new track 'Coming Home' after 12 years". realitybox. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ Corner, Lewis (22 January 2015). "The Vamps: The music that made us - Arctic Monkeys, McFly, more". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ Payne, Chris (28 July 2014). "5 Seconds of Summer's Top 10 Influences: Blink-182, Green Day, Nirvana & More". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)