Busted‘s James Bourne has opened up about releasing an album amid his ongoing health struggles.
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In April, Bourne issued a statement on his health, saying he needed a “major surgery” to extend his life. Now, he’s shared that he’d been working on a new album throughout that period, and was afraid he wouldn’t be able to finish it.
Bourne has been writing ‘Murder At The Gates’, an album for a new musical by Tony Award-winning US playwright Steven Sater, for the past 13 years. Speaking to The Sun, Bourne said: ‘I didn’t want my health to stop me from promoting this project because I’ve put 13 years of my life into it.
“There was a fear of not finishing it. But I knew I had to finish it and give this to the people,” he said. “There’s like a few people that have been waiting for it. There are hardcore fans who show to up for everything – and I have been speaking about this for a long time.”
Bourne went on to say: “It feels so good to now have this as a finished product. And it’s the first album I’ve ever produced. So I’m proud of it.’
@sineadmcfly Wishing James a speedy recovery. They were great without him! #busted #jamesbourne #mcfly #bustedvsmcfly #fyp @Busted
♬ original sound – Sinead 💞
The new album will be released on July 1, and also features Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo.
It comes after the guitarist was forced to sit out the band’s joint UK and Ireland tour with McFly last year, telling fans at the time that he was “not in good enough health to play” and said he was “really sorry” to step back from the tour.
His bandmates later addressed his absence on stage, with Matt Willis telling fans: “James Bourne is really fucking sick and we love him and we miss him.”
In April, Bourne then updated fans, telling them he required the “major surgery”. Now, he’s reflected on not joining the tour, saying it gave him the “gift of time”, although he added that having to drop out “was such a shame.”
But you have to turn negative into positive. They’re the conversations I’ve had with my closest friends,” he said. “I wanted to take the time I’d been given and deliver this album.”
During the tour, Willis also told fans: “This is the first show we’ve ever played without [Bourne] and it’s really weird, but we’re gonna do the best we can.” He said Bourne falling ill “happened fucking fast”, before telling the crowd: “Health is wealth.”
Willis revealed that he and Charlie Simpson had told Bourne to look after himself, and asked him if he wanted them to cancel the tour. However, Bourne gave them his blessing for the concerts to continue without him.
Busted released their fourth and latest studio album, ‘Half Way There’, in 2019 before sharing their UK Number One ‘Greatest Hits 2.0’ compilation in 2023.
In 2024, the trio revealed that they’d been working on new music with former Bring Me the Horizon musician Jordan Fish. Busted then spoke about how Fish had pushed them in the studio, calling him “an extraordinary talent”.
Meanwhile, many fans believe that Charlie Simpson is the frontman of the mysterious new act President. The band played their debut show at Download 2025, before taking to the stage in London. President have since announced a 2026 UK and Ireland tour and their first US headline dates.