McFly and Busted Travel Back to the Future

Pop conglomerate McBusted provided an entertaining trip back into my early teens at The O2 London. The new pop supergroup packed the arena full of old and new fans alike, and have potentially created a union that could have a bright future.

I was skeptical for how the evening was going to pan out, after getting a pounding, irritating headache from their warm up acts. Young Brando were good, and the sort of band I would have really liked 10 years ago; they could go far. Vix consisted of a red-headed female singer, who shouted covers pleasantly enough to get attention.

However, The 3 Dudes were on the cusp of ruining my evening entirely. They shouted and screamed into their microphones like boys singing in a garage. They were young, irritating, American and immature, talking about third nipples and other such nonsense. Their music was far too loud, and voices far too high. I felt ill by the time they finally left the stage. Music, it was not.

After being given ample time to recover, a video came on the screen showing Busted announcing their break-up nine years ago. Subsequent scenes show Willis and Bourne as they leave the press conference, get into a DeLorean, and travel into the future. At that moment, the 80's retro vehicle flies onto the stage, and the McFly boys spring out from beneath the stage with an explosion.

The rest of the show is full of humour and silliness, but all done in the smart way fans expect of the two bands. They chase each other around the oval stage, descend from the sky on a UFO, and Willis comes on stage in a wedding dress to perform Crashed the Wedding, with Poynter on his back. As well as that, they also have more treats on the screen, which showed their fun, creative and childish side. They are genuinely funny.

The show had a heavy influence of Busted songs (Air Hostess, Thunderbirds Are Go, Britney and You Said No), with Jones replacing the absent Charlie Simpson on vocals. The selection of McFly songs consisted largely of those from earlier on in their career (Five Colours in Her Hair, Obviously and Star Girl). This is a nostalgia tour, with music from both complimenting each other, and proving how much the fans love both them and their music.

The finale was an energetic performance of Year 3000, with three massively-inflated boobs hanging above them on the stage, in homage to the song. Their stamina never falters during the show, and nor does that of thousands of girls in the audience. Most of those in attendance for the DVD recording, were ecstatic girls in their teens. It shows that not only is this tour fulfilling the nostalgia of the older audience, but has also grabbed a new generation.

This does not feel like a comeback tour to rack in the profits, but instead feels as if they have never been away, and are old pros at performing live. I expect Charlie Simpson (the guy with the eyebrows) regrets his decision to 'focus on his solo career' now.