'We're back.' Busted announce new music and reunion tour
Noughties pop favourites Busted have announced that they are to reunite 10 years after they broke their fans hearts by splitting up.
The British trio topped the charts in 2002 with debut single What I Go to School For and went on to win two Brit awards and sell millions of albums with hits including Year 3000, Air Hostess and You Said No.
Comprised of Matt Willis, Charlie Simpson and James Bourne, the group broke up in 2005 after Simpson quit the band in late 2004.
Despite Simpson reiterating in 2010 that he "never will" rejoin the group, rumours began to circulate last month that a reunion may be in the works.
Today the band confirmed their impending comeback tour and teased new music in a video posted on YouTube.
On his previous declarations that he would never return, the 30-year-old said: "I genuinely meant that. There wasn't a time I said that that I didn't mean it wholeheartedly. I have changed my mind."
Speaking at a press conference, Willis, 34, said: "We're back! Busted are back. We're stoked and we're going on tour next year."
To Simpson, he joked: "Aren't we, Charlie? We are, right?"
The band announced 13 UK and Ireland tour dates in 2016, beginning at Wembley - The SSE Arena on May 11. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am.
Watch their comeback announcement:
Earlier this year, Bourne, 32, persuaded Simpson to secretly join him in a studio for a week in Philadelphia, where they put together a number of new songs - a catalyst for the reunion.
Bourne said: "We didn't know what it would be like being in the studio again so we wanted it to be a no pressure experience for us.
"It was a really fun time. It felt like we were hanging out like old friends."
Despite planning to release new music, Willis promised to play fan favourites, adding: "Busted only had two albums so we're probably going to play every song that you know."
In 2013, Willis and Bourne joined together with McFly to tour and release music as McBusted.
Bourne said: "It was like a broken band and a band that was not broken. They have each other as a whole band. They're very supportive about this."
Simpson added: "McBusted wasn't right for me. I was pleased for them more than jealous."