James Bourne Reports Recovery After Brother Chris Donates Kidney
The Busted musician said he is feeling better after a kidney transplant from his younger brother, with both recovering from surgery.
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Busted musician James Bourne has thanked his younger brother Chris for donating a kidney after doctors told him he had only a few years left to live, BBC News and The Independent reported.
Bourne, 43, said his condition had been serious but that he was already feeling considerably better following the transplant. Both brothers were recovering well from their operations, according to the outlets.
In a social media message on Monday, October 26, Bourne said Chris had “saved my life”, The Independent reported. BBC News also reported his thanks to his brother and his account of their recovery.
Both outlets reported that Bourne said he still needed time to recover. Chris responded publicly with a short message acknowledging what they had accomplished together.
The donation followed an earlier period in which Chris supported his brother by taking his place on stage. According to BBC News, James withdrew from an arena tour featuring Busted and McFly in September 2025, one day before it began, because of health problems. Chris replaced him on guitar.
The Independent likewise reported that Chris filled in during the bands’ UK and Ireland tour after James became unwell. At the time, James told fans that he, his bandmates and management agreed he should concentrate on his health.
Both outlets reported that Bourne subsequently said he needed major surgery to prolong his life. The Independent added that, in September this year, he had told fans he was still waiting for surgery and expected further information.
According to The Independent, Bourne also said he intended to return to Busted once he was well enough.
Bourne became known alongside Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis in Busted, BBC News and The Independent reported. Both identified Crashed the Wedding among the band’s hits and described Bourne and Willis joining forces with McFly in 2013.
The outlets gave different dates for Busted’s original split: The Independent reported 2004, while BBC News reported 2005. BBC News said Simpson returned for a full Busted reunion in 2015.
BBC News also reported that Bourne has written songs for McFly and 5 Seconds of Summer, fronted Son of Dork and recently released music from his stage musical Murder at the Gates.
The brothers’ latest updates centred on their recovery, with James crediting Chris’s kidney donation for the improvement in his health, according to BBC News and The Independent.
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