Busted’s Matt Willis teases what to expect before Haydock performance

The pop-punk band, which is made up of Matt Willis, James Bourne and Charlie Simpson, soared to success in 2003 with their smash hit song, Year 3000.

Now, 20 years on, the band are still going from strength to strength after completing their 20th anniversary tour last year.

The band’s bassist and co-vocalist, Matt Willis, opened up about what the band’s continued success means to him.

“I’m not blinded to the fact that this is still a massive privilege to be doing this,” he said.

“When we started the band, I remember wanting to play a venue in South End and that was the dream – that was as far as my ambition went.

“So, to be 40 years old and still be doing this is just the most unbelievable feeling.”

Busted  launched in 2002, when Matt was 19, and garnered huge success.

But in 2005, the band split after Charlie left to pursue other projects.

It was in 2013 that Matt and James teamed up with McFly to form McBusted – which toured and made music together for two years.

When Charlie decided to rejoin the band, Busted reformed and have been performing together as a trio ever since.

“I’ve known James since I was 15 and I look over and he’s still there, and we’re doing this thing together,” said Matt.

“The fact that Charlie’s there too, that’s a real joy for me because that was something which I never thought would happen again.

“For some reason we’re still doing this and that is an honour.”

While Matt has had other projects away from music, including going on and winning I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here in 2006, it’s clear that music remains his greatest professional passion.

“I take big responsibility in making sure that everyone walks away from every gig thinking ‘that was the best night of my life’,” he said.

“We’re all giving something – we’re giving a performance but we’re also feeding off the crowd and what they’re giving back resonates.

“It’s a beautiful thing and I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of it.”

The history of the band and his relationship with his bandmates is also important to Matt, who says that performing one song always resonates with him.

“We have a song called Sleep with the Light On and every time we perform that song, I’m transported back to James’ bedroom when I was 16 and we wrote that song.

“We wrote those lyrics and I hear people singing them back to me and that’s so cool – it never gets old.”

Even though they have been performing for two decades, Matt says the band is in a really good place coming off of the back of their 20th anniversary tour last year.

“It was the best thing I’ve ever done, the best touring experience I’ve ever had,” he said.

“I feel like we kind of found a new energy within Busted, it kind of feels like it’s revitalised us.

“We have a place in people’s lives which I don’t take for granted.”

Busted will perform at Haydock Park Racecourse on Saturday, July 20 after the races.

“The idea of playing a racecourse sounds weird but it’s actually just a really cool epic day out.

“You go and watch some horse racing with your friends or loved ones and you get to sign the night off with a gig.

“We’re going to send you home knackered; we’re going to make you jump up and down and spill your beer and have a great time.”

Busted’s estimated one hour set will conclude the event and will include well-loved hit songs from their discography.

But, while fans can’t expect to hear it just yet, Matt has teased that new Busted music is in the works – with hopes of more international tour dates to follow.

“We’re working really hard on it to get it right,” he said.

“We’re trying to write really great songs – forget about genre, forget about does this fit on radio – we’re not worrying about that.

“We’re just writing great songs that excite us.”

More information about the races at Haydock Park Racecourse and to buy tickets to see Busted, click here.