Busted’s James Bourne says ‘hero’ brother saved his life with kidney donation

James Bourne, known from the band Busted, has shared that his life was saved through a kidney donation from his younger brother, Chris. The guitarist, now 43, had faced serious health challenges that forced him to pull out of an arena tour with Busted and McFly just one day before it began in September 2025. At that time, health issues were cited as the reason, and Chris stepped in to replace him on the tour.

Following his withdrawal, James revealed that he required major surgery to prolong his life. In a heartfelt message, he expressed his gratitude towards Chris, calling him a “hero” and confirming that both brothers are currently recovering well from their respective transplant operations. Reflecting on the sudden turn of events, James wrote, “Wow, what the hell happened? One minute you’re heading out on tour, the next thing you know you’re on the bench and out of the game.”

He also shared the seriousness of his condition, stating that doctors had warned him he only had a few years left to live. However, after receiving a kidney from Chris, James noticed significant improvements in his health. “I can’t believe how much better I’m starting to feel already,” he said, while acknowledging that he still needs time to fully recover. Chris posted a brief but supportive message on social media, saying, “We did it brother.”

James Bourne rose to fame in the early 2000s as part of Busted, alongside Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis. The group achieved notable success with hits like “What I Go To School For,” “Year 3000,” and “Crashed the Wedding,” scoring four UK number one singles before their split in 2005. Afterward, Bourne and Willis joined forces with McFly to form McBusted in 2013, before Simpson rejoined Busted for a full reunion in 2015. Beyond Busted, James has written songs for artists including McFly and 5 Seconds of Summer and has led his own band, Son of Dork. Recently, he released music from his stage musical, Murder at the Gates

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