Charlie Simpson's reason for leaving Busted after fall out and years of silence

17 February 2024 , 16:26

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Charlie is still enjoying success after reuniting with his Busted bandmates (Image: Getty Images)

Charlie Simpson has had quite a musical journey, rising to fame with teen idols Busted before ditching them for his rock band Fightstar and then returning to his original band members after a decade apart.

Back in 2005, when Busted were at the height of their fame, Charlie decided that he couldn't be involved with the band any more and wanted to scratch his rock itch and focus on his new band, Fightstar. What followed was years of silence between Charlie and his former bandmates Matt Willis and James Bourne until they came calling to see if he wanted to be a part of their new project that would see Busted and McFly come together as a supergroup called McBusted.

Charlie Simpson with Matt Willis and James Bourne in Busted

Before that though, Charlie admitted that it was musical differences that were the main reasons for him to quit the band. Speaking about making the move to a heavy rock group, Charlie admits that there was a lot of critical sneering at his choice. He said: “There was so much scepticism about what I was doing and it was a huge uphill climb, but that made it all the more triumphant. And the band was a release to me - to absorb myself in this music. But we never had a grand plan; we didn’t even think we were going to play a live show."

Charlie added: “People didn’t expect to like what I did. It was quite a snobby industry - more so than it is now."

Charlie Simpson on ITV's The Masked Singer (ITV)

When his former bandmates got in touch, it ended years of silence between the three of them. Speaking about the moment they reconnected, Charlie said on ITV's Lorraine: "I hadn't spoken to them for a long time, about six or seven years and they rang me and told me they wanted to do that and we’re kind of speaking again now, which is really nice, and almost rebuilding our relationship so I’m pleased - everyone is in a good place, everyone is enjoying doing what they’re doing and it’s all good."

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Eventually, after 10 years away, Charlie was eventually lured back to Busted for a reunion and there have been tours and an album since then as he felt that he was more in tune with Matt and James now that he had had a blast in a rock band. Returning to the fold, Charlie gave an insight into some of the reasons why he left in the first place.

Charlie recalled: "But we burnt ourselves, we went so hard so fast. The only thing we knew was that we didn’t want to make an album that sounded like we did 10 years ago. For a start, the band broke up because I had drifted away from that. We basically broke up on musical grounds so it would be very strange to come back and make music that represents where we were a decade ago. So many people are shocked that I came back to the band because I said I never would. It makes sense that I would, though, because the band is so different.”

Trying to clear up rumours of fallout and feud, Charlie revealed on his return to Busted: "There was never any animosity between me and Matt and James... they are obviously doing this super group thing now and I’m really happy for them."

James Brinsford