James Bourne Reveals “Major Surgery” to Extend His Life After Worrying Health Struggles Force Him to Quit Busted Tour
Busted’s James Bourne has shared a sobering health update, revealing that he is set to undergo “major surgery” in a bid to “extend his life” following a sudden and unexplained health crisis that forced him to pull out of the Busted vs McFly tour six months ago.
At 42 years old, James had to abandon the highly anticipated joint tour in September, just one day before it kicked off in Birmingham. His bandmates, including Matt Willis, expressed deep concern for their friend, describing him as “really f***ing sick.”
In a new Instagram post on Saturday, James opened up about his ongoing health issues, explaining that he has a plan in place for surgery that he hopes will allow him to recover and return to the stage. He wrote, “I have a plan in place to have 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. It really sucks to be out of the game, but there is hope!”
James, who skyrocketed to fame as part of the iconic pop-punk band Busted alongside Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis, revealed that it has been six months since his last post, adding, “It’s been a tough road, but I’m hopeful that this surgery will give me a chance to get back to doing what I love.”
The band’s tour kicked off in September, but just days before the first performance, James made the difficult decision to step back, explaining on social media that he wasn’t in good enough health to perform. “I’m really sorry to say that over the last 8 days, it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows,” he admitted at the time. “There’s a lot of information I still don’t have about my condition, but my bandmates, management, and I are unanimous in deciding that I should focus on the medical stuff for now.”
While Busted went on to perform without James, Matt Willis made a heartfelt tribute during their first show. “Okay, you may have noticed our best friend is not here tonight. James Bourne is really f***ing sick, and we love him and miss him,” he said. “This is the first show we’ve ever played without him, but we’re going to do the best we can. Health is wealth.”
Now, with the surgery on the horizon, James is optimistic about his future and his return to music. “I really miss being out there with the guys,” he confessed. “But I’m focusing on getting better, and there is hope. I’ll be back stronger than ever.”
The Busted vs McFly tour was a significant event for fans of both bands, with a head-to-head showdown between the two iconic groups. McFly’s Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd, and Dougie Poynter, alongside Busted’s James, Charlie, and Matt, all brought their unique energy to the stage.
Despite the setback, James remains hopeful that he will be able to return to the music scene and share his journey with fans once again. “Thank you all for your continued support,” he wrote. “See you soon.”
Fans and bandmates alike are wishing James a swift recovery and eagerly awaiting the day he can join his bandmates once again.
