02 December 2023 , 12:00
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Busted are more popular than ever but Matt Willis has recalled some interactions that took him by surprise.
The pop-punk trio dominated the charts between 2000 and 2005 before they eventually called it a day. But ten years after their split, Matt, James Bourne and Charlie Simpson reunited and have since become more popular than ever. Since reforming, they've performed sell-out tours up and down the country and gone on to release two new studio albums.
But with their newfound fame comes a whole hoard of new fans, including the school friends of Matt's daughter, Isabelle. The rocker revealed that lads at the school gates often quiz him about guitars.
Speaking about becoming more popular, Matt said: "It's kind of surreal." Ahead of their set at Hits Live Manchester which saw the group headline Manchester's AO Arena, he went on to reveal exclusively to the Mirror: "I watched them announce who's going to be on and when they said Busted the crowd went wild, that's quite nice to hear."
Matt Willis has revealed his daughter's schoolmates often quiz him about music (Kevin Parry/REX/Shutterstock)
The singer and actor shares his daughter with his wife, telly presenter Emma Willis (Dave Benett/Getty Images)Lead singer Charlie added: "Our older fans may have had kids and played Busted to their kids which is good." Discussing being a dad, Matt continued: "A lot of kids at my kid's school know Busted. When I go and pick my daughter up, she's 14, the boys in her class ask about guitars and are like 'it's cool man'."
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Meanwhile, James Bourne said: "There were times when we weren't around and I people get sick of you, you go away and it makes people like you more," while Matt commented: "Distance makes the heart grow fonder." The trio recently released their Greatest Hits 2.0 album, which topped the Official UK Charts.
But instead of just releasing the original versions of tracks, the lads collaborated with the likes of The Vamps, Simple Plan, Neck Deep, McFly and Deaf Havana to re-record some of their biggest hits. Reflecting on the album, Matt said: "It was amazing, we asked people who we really admired and liked and thought might be into Busted – we had a really good success rate."
"For a couple, we were [in the studio with them]," said Charlie, before continuing: "The Vamps came to the studio but most of them just did it themselves." Although many may be slowing down in the lead-up to Christmas, Charlie revealed that the Busted lads aren't and have already lined up several projects for 2024.
He commented: "We're re-releasing our Greatest Hits album next year but the live version, it's coming out on vinyl and then we've got loads of summer shows. We're also writing stuff for our new album so we're busy, busy." "It's all very enjoyable," gushed Bourne, before adding: "Exciting, enjoyable, amazing, it feels all of those things. We feel invigorated and ready to go."
Greatest Hits 2.0 Another Present For Everyone is set for release on January 5, 2024.