Matt Willis Opens Up About Busted's Tour Without James Bourne
Matt Willis has candidly discussed the emotional challenges of Busted's latest tour without his longtime bandmate James Bourne, describing it as a "really difficult time" and vowing never to repeat the experience. The revelation comes as James, 42, prepares for major surgery aimed at extending his life after a six-month hiatus from the spotlight.
The Sudden Absence That Shook the Band
James Bourne's absence from Busted's 2025 tour with McFly was a devastating blow to fans and bandmates alike. The guitarist and singer was forced to withdraw just one day before the tour commenced due to an undisclosed illness, leaving Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson to grapple with whether to proceed without him.
"It was a real shame, we've never done a show without James and it was really hard," Matt told Metro. "There was a real moment of 'are we gonna do this or not? Should we do this?' We were talking to him and he was like 'you should still do it, I just can't be there.' It was a really difficult time for us. It all happened so quickly."
James Bourne's Health Battle and Hopeful Outlook
In a recent Instagram Story, James Bourne broke his six-month silence to share his health struggles and future plans. "I have a plan in place to have a major surgery that should extend my life and hopefully make me well enough to come back to what I love the most which is touring and making music," he wrote. "It really sucks to be out of the game. But there is hope!"
During the tour, Matt and Charlie frequently mentioned James, with Matt emotionally telling fans through tears that his friend was "really f***ing sick." The band found out about the severity of James's condition just days before their first show, leaving little time to process the situation.
The Emotional Toll of Performing Without a Brother
Matt Willis described the tour experience as fundamentally altered without James Bourne's presence. "It was strange; it was weird. I don't ever want to do it again," the 42-year-old musician confessed. "It was a weird tour. It was still great, we put on as good a show as we could, but we were definitely missing something."
The decision to continue without James came after his encouragement, but the emotional weight remained palpable throughout the performances. Matt emphasized the deep bond between the bandmates, who have been close friends for over two decades.
Gratitude and Perspective After Two Decades
Reflecting on his career, Matt expressed profound gratitude for still being able to perform with his best friends after all these years. "I love those boys so much. I love the fact I'm still able to do it," he said. "The fact that we wrote songs in our bedroom when we were 16 for a laugh. The whole idea of playing a local venue and maybe some people would come, and now I'm 42 and playing arenas, singing these songs, it's just incredible. I don't take any of it for granted."
Matt Willis is currently starring as Emcee at the Kit Kat Club in London's Playhouse Theatre until May 23, 2026, while James Bourne focuses on his health and recovery. The band's experience has underscored the unbreakable connection between the three musicians and their commitment to performing together whenever possible.
