Busted are an English pop-punk[5] band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex,[6] consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson.

Formed in 2000, the band has had four UK number-one singles, won two Brit Awards, released four studio albums and sold over 5 million records worldwide.

The band reunited in 2015, embarking on the Pigs Can Fly arena tour[8] in May 2016 and releasing their third studio album, Night Driver, on 25 November 2016.

They remained friends for a number of years and wrote material together, which Willis claimed was inspired by BBMak, Blink-182 and the American Pie 2 soundtrack.

[15][16] Looking to find a new band member, Willis and Bourne placed an ad in NME magazine,[17] titled "Guitarist and singer wanted for pop band…".

[19][20] 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!

[22] Their debut album, Busted, was then released, initially charting only around the UK Top 30 and receiving mixed reviews from critics however, it went on to peak at number 2.

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.

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.

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 practice with the band and soon began booking regular rehearsal sessions together, under the name Fightstar.

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.

[26] 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.

[31] 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.

[32] 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.

I have good memories of the time because we were traveling the world and doing some amazing things, but then as far as self-fulfillment goes, it wasn't really doing a lot for me, so I have these mixed views when I look back.

[34] Simpson began pursuing a solo career after playing in Fightstar, a post-hardcore band which differs greatly from the sound of Busted.

Bourne went on to release music through pop punk band Son of Dork,[41] and pursued a solo career under the name of Future Boy.

[42] Bourne has also written songs for many artists, including Melanie C,[43] McFly,[44] JC Chasez,[45] Patrick Monahan,[46] and the Jonas Brothers.

[56] From 19 to 22 September 2013, Willis and Bourne made a surprise brief reunion as McBusted when they joined McFly as special guests during the band's four 10th anniversary concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

[59][60] Willis also revealed that Busted had been approached to star in the ITV2 series The Big Reunion, but turned it down because "it didn't feel right for our band.

[69] 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 would follow in the autumn.

Chalmers, president of East West, said: "Watching Busted play live over the past few weeks and seeing people respond to their music and energy has been amazing.

On 18 August 2016, it was announced by BBC News that a musical based on the band's history written by Bourne and Elliot Davis was to be staged, What I Go to School For will depict the group's rise to fame.

[76] In June 2017 Busted flew to Los Angeles to perform their first American re-formed gig at the Troubadour and continue writing and begin recording for their planned fourth album.

[87] On 8 June 2019, Busted were invited up on stage to perform "Year 3000" with the Jonas Brothers at Capital's Summertime Ball 2019 as special guests.

[96] An album of other re-recorded Busted classics featuring other artists, including McFly, All Time Low and Neck Deep, is set to be released as well.

[118] When Busted returned to the pop punk sounds for Half Way There, Simpson noted that it was a style they tried to have when they were younger but the 'record label wouldn't allow it'.

After the record label declined Tom Fletcher's participation in the band, he was offered a space on the song writing team for the first two albums.