Live Review: Busted Vs Mcfly - Ovo Wembley, London 19/09/2025
Busted & McFly hit the OVO Arena Wembley on Friday night for their blistering combination of 00s hits and pop-rock nostalgia.
The streets outside reflect the stadium’s summer shows – Coldplay’s Yellow steps, a collection of Oasis photographs – but everyone has gathered for two other important British bands.
Both have history at the arena – McFly’s ‘Radioactive: Live At Wembley’ DVD was recorded here, whilst Busted’s reunion tour in 2016 kicked off in James Bourne’s favourite venue.
After two nights in Birmingham, round three started with first blood to Busted, as their intro music choice ‘Sk8er Boi’ edged out McFly’s ‘YMCA’ in an online fan vote.
The intro aped Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, introducing Busted first as “Pop’s bad boys”, before highlighting McFly’s chart successes as Busted slumbered. More recently, it flipped back and forth between their separate stories, hyping up the room before the music started.
McFly are 22 – a year shy of being a potential murderer in the marines, as per ‘Obviously’. That was one of 13 hits crammed into the quartet’s opening 55 minutes, starting with the stadium rock of 2023’s ‘Where Did All The Guitars Go?’.
For those who have never seen Tom, Danny, Dougie and Harry before, it’s a masterclass in what they do. Their interplay remains as solid and fun as ever, displayed by the first two at the end of ‘Room on the 3rd Floor’, the first song Tom and Danny ever wrote together.
Many in the audience were regulars at McFly gigs though, revelling in the usual delight – their trademark joint-kicking walk, singing along with ‘Obviously’ from the first verse to the ending. Belting “never will be good enough for her” in full voice is always extremely cathartic.
The fans would follow any command, raising fingers during ‘One for the Radio’ while chanting “We don’t care! We don’t care!”, standing up on Danny’s request in the run-up to the bubbling joy of ‘Happiness’, or linked arm-in-arm, “like it’s New Year’s Eve”, for ‘All About You’.
Dougie took charge of band introductions, including middle names, declaring himself “the silent genius behind Busted and McFly” in the process. It’s all good friendly banter.
Danny sang from the barrier during the frantic, almost industrial chaos of ‘Red’, before the piano-driven finale of ‘The Heart Never Lies’, complete with rainfall lighting over arena rock stylings. “It’s not always easy, but McFly’s here forever.”
The magic of a pop show transition leaves a little over a minute before Busted burst on with a short rock intro of their own, leading into ‘Crashed the Wedding’. It’s the first of their hits in a set entirely focused on their first two albums, including ‘Meet You There’ and ‘You Said No’. Given the circumstances, it would have been a wild tangent to unleash new material.
For as much as this is a celebration, the absence of James Bourne from the tour for health reasons is noticeable. Talking about it left Matt Willis choked up, determined to make a moment in the missing member’s “favourite venue in the world. Let’s make this fucking awesome for him.” ‘Sleeping With the Light On’ is dedicated to James amid a sea of phone lights.
The Bourne identity remains, as little brother Chris stepped in to play additional guitar for a handful of songs, including ‘Loser Kid’ and ‘Who’s David’. He had two days to figure it out, but as Matt said, he “absolutely smashed it”.
Generally though, it feels as close to business as usual as possible. Matt and Charlie Simpson do an exceptional job in keeping spirits high, aided by drummer Eddy Thrower, who is fiery and frenetic on the skins.
After ‘Everything I Knew’, it ends with a one-two punch of anthems, Charlie in a sleeveless Pantera top with his pink guitar for ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’, before circling back to the start for 2002’s ‘What I Go to School For’, “when we had nothing to worry about.” The flashing lights and crashing rock bring an end to Busted’s solo spell of escapism.
For all the ‘Vs’ tour promotion, most knew the rivalry was jovial. The part exploring the cross-pollination of both bands began with a fun drum battle, as Harry Judd and Eddy Thrower went toe-to-toe, smashing and bashing their way into setting up the next portion of the pop show.
Dougie and Matt emerged in the stands on either side, amongst the seated fans, to trade blows over ‘Hate Your Guts’ from 2014’s ‘McBusted’ album. The McFly man urged his side to chant “Matt Sucks! Matt Sucks!”, but being on the other side of the room, I must stick up for Mr Willis. Sorry Dougie!
Back on the main diamond stage, Charlie and Danny teamed up for a sweet rendition of ‘3AM’, a highlight of the Busted catalogue, and the tender ‘Not Alone’ which Danny wrote for the first McFly album. After all the frenzy, it was nice to take a moment and reflect.
Not that it lasts. Charlie stayed on stage as Matt and Eddy rejoined for ‘Air Hostess’, before McFly rose up from the stage for ‘5 Colours In Her Hair’. The usual pop magic tricks, of course, but the moment doesn’t need anything new. The history is enough to carry everyone home.
Watching Charlie sing the second verse of McBusted song ‘What Happened To Your Band’ is slightly surreal, as he missed the supergroup first time around, but he fit in perfectly. That novelty was the beginning of the joint encore, which rounded off with two of the 00s biggest pop anthems, ‘Shine A Light’ and ‘Year 3000’. Watching the two entities mingle and work together was a pleasure. ‘Year 3000’ started with a plea for the crowd to jump, and ended with confetti reigning down (another typical pop trick) as both drummers played in tandem, whilst the five outfield players huddled together, jamming on their guitars like there was no tomorrow.
But there is a tomorrow, and beyond. The tour tagline is “Every Saga has an Ending”, but this is only night three. Two nights at The O2 follow over the weekend, before a month and a half more touring. This saga is just starting, and they won’t stop unless they’re physically forced apart.
Both acts share their love to the audience as War’s ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends’ blares out. For the perceived animosity, there’s just strong camaraderie. It has carried the loser kids of Busted, and the more positive pop angels of McFly, from the start, and it should see them through, whatever’s coming down the line.
Words by Samuel Draper
