‘Our bond is more special now than ever’: Busted star Matt Willis on bandmates, growing up, and Stirling show

We caught up with Busted star Matt Willis, who is buzzing for a Stirling castle crowd at this week’s Summer Sessions and a chance to keep his ‘bizarre life’ going.

Are you looking forward to the Stirling show?

We always get such a buzz going anywhere we haven’t been for a while and I don’t think we’ve ever been to Stirling so this is a first and it’ll be epic. The backdrop sounds wicked – a castle is a bit Charlie Simpson, but it’s definitely not my normal vibe!

With a Scottish crowd you don’t have to worry about them being up for it. The signs we see in the crowd are especially funny. We love going up and wish we were there more.

You’ve got The Darkness supporting?

It’s going to be a banger of a night. Before they released their first album I saw them play a little club in London to 180 people. Justin Hawkins played it like Wembley Stadium – it was unbelievable.

He was on the shoulders of his guitar tech, doing solos around the crowd. I was obsessed with them. I wore their T-shirt on Top Of The Pops before they got signed. I’m a big fan.

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How does touring with Busted now compare to back then?

At certain points in my life, I ‘ve felt a bit like a grown up. I’ve got three kids, one almost 15, so dealing with schools and stuff feels a bit grown-up.

Then suddenly I’m in a room with two other idiots I’ve known since I was 16 and we’re the same guys we’ve always been.

On stage it’s like a different life. It’s so much fun. I don’t take it for granted – I play every gig as if it’s my last, because with our band, you never know!

We just did our 20th anniversary tour which felt like a big moment, feeling the warmth and love from everyone. It flies by sometimes and other times it feels like 50 years.

We still want to be better. We don’t settle, we make our shows as big as possible and want people to go away thinking it was the best night of their lives.

You’re older and wiser now but how does it feel turning back time with some of the songs?

I remember vividly being 33 and realising I was the same age we made Miss Mackenzie in What I Go To School For because we thought that was really old!

‘So she may be 33, but it doesn’t bother me…’ I’m now 41 and I’m still singing about fancying school teachers! It’s a bizarre little life that I live.

Busted feels youthful, it feels fun. You come along, forget your life for two hours, just have a great time.

How is the bond with bandmates James and Charlie?

It’s more special now than ever. Me, James and Charlie have never really been better.

We understand each other and give the space we need as mates and as creatives to do our thing but then, when we come together, it’s all Busted.

Some of our crew are the same we’ve had since we were 17 years old. It’s like this big Busted family.

You’ve been acting too?

I went to theatre school and always wanted to be an actor. I never really meant to be in a band. It was a really amazing happy accident.

I’ve done loads of theatre and have been getting more TV and film roles over the last few years. I went back to drama school to re-train a bit. I do whatever I can when I can.

Busted is number one priority. These are all little dirty flings in a way, Busted is my marriage.

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A documentary last year focused on your struggles with addiction, and now you’ve got a podcast, how has that been?

The documentary was a real turning point for me. To make change you need to have a voice within a place, so that’s what we’re doing now. I love getting a bit deep and talking about stuff I don’t normally talk about.

I love that people open up to me and I can get inside someone’s head for a little while and take little nuggets of inspiration and knowledge on getting through dark, hard times and how we move forward.

We’re trying to build a community with On The Mend. I think, as men, we can sometimes be a bit guarded and not show true vulnerabilities and feelings. I don’t want to be like that anymore. It’s not served me well. I’m trying to be as open as I can and hopefully that encourages others.

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You’re hosting Love Is Blind UK with your wife Emma, how important has her support been to you?

Later this year we’ll have been together 20 years. In a long relationship you’re going to go through hard times and struggles. We’ve managed to keep our heads above water.

I love her so much and working with her is really special. We did the I’m A Celebrity spin-off show years ago but we were both much younger and naïve. She’s gone on to be this amazing, incredible TV presenter, I’m learning as I go from her and it’s really fun.

Love Is Blind is the best show to work on as well, it’s such an awesome thing.

Busted play Stirling Summer Sessions on June 28 as part of the city’s 900th anniversary celebrations. smmrsessions.com