The return of Busted has seen the pop-punk power trio go back to the future as they prepare for a 2019 that reignites their glory days.
They’ve already prepared the groundwork with a rush of activity. First they announced a double-bill of big news: the February 1st release of their fun-filled fourth album ‘Half Way There’ and an accompanying UK arena tour. They then played three chaotic sold-out shows in a day at the 100 Club, and a throwback video for ‘Nineties’ which revived the days of Top of the Pops, Blind Date, Nirvana and white-suited boy bands. To cap it all, their recent track ‘Reunion’ shot to #1 on the iTunes Rock Chart.
Now Busted continue their current momentum by dropping their new heartbreak song ‘Radio’. In keeping with the boys’ current mission of growing up without growing old, it’s a dynamic power ballad which uses nostalgia and reflection to examine how life unfolds as the years go by.
Originally written as a song about missing home while being on tour, Busted changed the song’s emphasis to make something that both the band and their fans can relate to.
“It’s talking about the memories that you used to share with someone when listening to the radio,” explains James Bourne.
“Listening to the radio can evoke nostalgic reactions, and when a song comes on it can really take you back to that moment,” adds Charlie Simpson. “But when the song reminds you of losing that person, what would’ve been a good feeling suddenly feels very empty.”
The accompanying video for the track was directed by the iconic Rankin. ‘Radio’ represents the third time they’ve worked together after Rankin shot Busted’s press images for their huge 2016 reunion tour, which he followed by directing their recent ‘Nineties’ video.
‘Radio’, ‘Nineties’, ‘Reunion’ and ‘All My Friends’ are provided as instant downloads for fans who pre-order ‘Half Way There’ from here. The album will be released on streaming, download, CD, black vinyl and splattered vinyl formats.
Produced by Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies), ‘Half Way There’ is a rush of melody and effervescent riffs as Busted blend huge arena-filling choruses with the classic pop-punk sound of Blink 182 and New Found Glory. Lyrically it’s often reflective and nostalgic (‘Reunion’, ‘All My Friends’ and a mini Busted autobiography in the shape of ‘It Happens’), but there are some fantastical flights of fancy too in the shape of ‘Shipwrecked In Atlantis’ and a tribute to Elon Musk in ‘Race To Mars’.
Busted’s forthcoming arena dates introduce their new touring drummer, Eddy Thrower from modern rock heroes Lower Than Atlantis. Tickets are now available from myticket.co.uk/artists/busted. The dates are:
MARCH
23rd – Glasgow, The SSE Hydro
26th – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
28th – Manchester, Arena
29th – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena
30th – London, The SSE Arena Wembley
