Busted’s James Bourne says he’s only alive because his youngest brother Chris gave him a kidney
Busted star James Bourne has revealed he is only ‘alive and kicking’ thanks to a kidney donation from his brother, Chris.
The singer first acknowledged his health troubles to the public back in the summer via social media, writing on X in July before closing his Instagram account: “As I’m taking a break from the gram, I’ll be posting an update soon about what’s going on with my health in my Spotify bio.
“It’s a long story. Still not out of the woods yet. Thanks for your support and patience.”
Now, in his latest update, he took to Spotify to explain how he expected to have just a few years left to live until his younger brother Chris intervened.
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“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 wrote. “My condition was serious and the doctors told me I had a few years left to live.”
'My brother is a hero'
He described Chris, who stepped in for him on tour last year, has 'saved my life yet again'.
"This time quite literally by donating me one of his kidneys," James explained. "I can’t believe how much better I’m starting to feel already.
“I’m still going to need some time, but I wanted you to know that we’re both recovering from surgery just fine. My brother is a hero.”
James Bourne's health troubles and pulling out of a tour
The star’s health concerns were first reported in September last year when he had to pull out of the Busted vs McFly tour with just 24 hours of notice.
He apologised to fans at the time, saying that he was ‘not in good enough health’ to take part - and praising his girlfriend and family for their support.
Chris then took part in the show, replacing him on the guitar alongside Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis - James’s two original bandmates.
Becoming 'well enough' to 'make music again'
Matt told Metro he had ‘never done a show without James’ and did not want to repeat the experience again.
“We were talking to him, and he was like, 'You should still do it, I just can’t be there'. It was a really difficult time for us. It all happened so quickly,” he recalled.
“It was strange; it was weird. I don’t ever want to do it again."
After six months out of the spotlight, James revealed in April this year he was due to undergo ‘major surgery’ that could ‘extend life’.
He said the surgery should make him ‘well enough’ to ‘make music again’.
'I didn’t want my health to stop me from promoting this project'
"It really sucks to be out of the game. But there is hope," he wrote.
He released Murder At The Gates, the soundtrack to a musical he wrote with Steven Sater, on 1 July.
He told The Sun in June: "I didn’t want my health to stop me from promoting this project because I’ve put 13 years of my life into it.
“There was a fear of not finishing it. But I knew I had to finish it and give this to the people.”
Michael D. Carroll