Charlie Simpson opens up about Busted split as he releases new album (2024)

As Matt Willis and James Bourne enjoy renewed success with McBusted, their former bandmate Charlie Simpson has been carving out a solo career of his own.

And with his second album, Long Road Home, going into the mid-week charts at No. 4, his decision not to join the super-group has worked out pretty well.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Charlie Simpson opened up about his decision to quit Busted in 2005, and how now he has rebuilt the friendship once shared with Matt and James.

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‘When they told me about [McBusted], they knew I was in the middle of doing this record,’ Charlie explains.’The band was a lifetime ago. But I'm really happy that they're doing it, and they look they're enjoying it - now it just wouldn't be right for me to do.’

In a recent documentary, James said he was shocked and hurt by what he believed to be an abrupt end to their pop rock band, but Charlie doesn't regret his decision to leave.

‘Obviously it wasn't a pleasant time and they wanted to carry on but I was in such a bad head space, I just had to get out of it,’ the singer thinks back. ‘I would have done a huge detriment to myself and our relationship if I had stayed on.

‘There's a lot of pressure in these situations; I was dealing with a lot very young when it was all happening, but it's nice now to have that time and to look back with fond memories.

‘I'm glad that's the way it ended up rather than looking back on it bitterly.’

Matt, James and Charlie met up for a discussion about the possibility of all three joining McBusted - the super-group made up with McFly’s Dougie Poynter, Harry Judd, Danny Jones and Tom Fletcher - however it wasn't as tense as many reports had suggested.

‘We had to sit down together and talk about how all that stuff would work, but there was never any animosity between us of me not wanting to do it,’ Charlie remembers. ‘They've always been supportive of me since leaving the band and it's great to see them enjoying it.’

‘I went for a long time keeping completely out of touch with Matt and James, but now that they are doing music again, we've got in touch and it's really nice. We used to be really close when we were younger, it's nice to have that relationship back again.’

Though they have refound their former friendship, ardent Busted fans will be disappointed to find that there is no chance of a reunion show, or of Charlie performing any old hits as he toursas a solo artist.

‘I don't do covers of Busted or Fightstar songs as I feel its weird to perform songs of bands you were in unless you’re all there. My way of thinking of it is that I like to keep it separate.’

He would however love to do some collaborations with some fresh artists.

‘I really like Bastille and the fact they have some electronic elements,’ Charlie says. ‘I've never really done anything like that so it might be cool working with them or get my song remixed by someone.

‘I'd also love to see what Imogen Heap or CHVRCHES could do with one of my songs; we could almost go back to the drawing board with a song and see what we can do with their artistic style.’

Long Road Home is Charlie’s second solo album - and eighth studio album including his former bands’ back catalogues - and it presents a West Coast acoustic sound that feels more personal to him than ever before.

‘It's been a year in the making and I guess it feels more personal in a way,’ Charlie explains. ‘The track “Long Road Home” makes me just totally want to listen to it driving down Pacific highway in Calfiornia, sun blaring. It's a feel good record.’

It’s a sound that has become more prominent in the musical landscape of late, with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg doing well in the charts and garnering critical success.

‘That sound is definitely making a bit of a comeback,’ Charlie agrees. ‘The influences I had are very much reminiscent of the stuff my dad used to play. It's making a return because a lot of the younger generation are listening to bands of my age doing it now, so they're looking back at those artists who did it first.’

Of course being in two bands before can make a solo career seem rather daunting, but Charlie has loved having the creative freedom to put his own stamp on his music. Though that doesn't mean a new Fightstar record isn't on the cards.

‘It is a bit daunting at first doing a solo album,’ Simpson explains. ‘In a band you get to share in the highs and lows of what happens, so when it's me on my own it is a little strange.

‘I will definitely do the band thing again and do another Fightstar record for sure. Me and my brothers were talking about doing a project too. If i'm going to do something new it has to be something that hasn't been done.’

In between records, Charlie has tried his hand at movie soundtracks having written the score for independent British film Everyone Is Going To Die.

‘That is something that excites me very much,’ the singer-songwriter enthuses, ‘A lot of my favourite soundtracks have been from artists - Elliot Smith on Good Will Hunting, M83 for Oblivion and Daft Punk did Tron.’

And now that he’s married - Charlie wed his long-term girlfriend in Kenya-themed wedding this June - he hopes that in the future, doing film soundtracks will allow him to stay at home and be around his family: ‘When I'm older and have kids it will be nice to write from home and be in one place.’

Married life is certainly treating Simpson well, having just returned from his honeymoon when we sat down to chat.

‘I’m feeling so fresh from the honeymoon and it's really exciting,’ Charlie smiles. ‘My wife's away this week and I'm home alone, and she's like “don't you dare talk to me about being away!”

‘It is difficult as she is at home on her own while I'm having a great time on tour. In the future it would be great to take her out with me, and when I have kids, that will be an experience.’

Charlie certainly felt that at 28, it was the perfect moment to settle down: ‘We've been together for a long time and it felt like the right time. I never felt mature enough and now I feel like I can take on those responsibilities.’

Next up, Charlie will be headlining London’s Roundhouse, his favourite venue in the capital.

‘I am nervous about it,’ the singer says as I ask whether he’s worried about the new album’s reception. You know giving out something that's so close to you and it can be dissected by anyone, then you go on tour and playing the songs in front of people.

'It's nice to have an album under my belt where people have a sense of it.’

Charlie Simpson plays at London’s Roundhouse this November

Long Road Home is available to buy on iTunesnow