The Busted Vs McFly Tour kicked off in Birmingham on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. The concept is pitched as a "battle of the bands" showdown. It is bringing Britain's two beloved 2000s pop-rock acts head-to-head.Recently, Busted's James Bourne announced that he would not be taking part due to health reasons. James explained the decision in an official social media statement. He wrote:"There is a lot of information I still don't have about my condition."He admitted he was "really sorry" to step back and hoped he could rejoin soon. To fill the absence of Bourne, Matt Willis introduced James' younger brother, Chris Bourne, as his replacement in the Busted Vs McFly Tour. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostWho is Chris Bourne?Chris previously made a cameo in Busted's Year 3000 music video. According to Matt, he first picked up the guitar at the age of six. Matt Willis said on the stage:"We still have a Bourne with us, we still have a Bourne!"Willis also revealed that they had briefly considered having a member of McFly cover James' parts. However, Bourne was adamant that it was not an option. Instead, he suggested his brother.Notably, James Bourne did not go into detail about his illness. However, his message to fans mentioned the need to "focus on the medical stuff for now." His complete note was as follows:"The VS tour kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham and as excited as I have been all year for this tour to begin, I'm really sorry to say that over the last 8 days it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows :-("He continued to talk about his absence from the Busted Vs McFly Tour:"There is a lot of information I still don't have about my condition but my bandmates, management and I are unanimous in deciding that I should focus on the medical stuff for now. I really hope I can be in a position to come back further down the line. It's still going to be an amazing show and I will miss being there! See you all as soon as possible."On stage, Willis told the Birmingham audience:"James Bourne is really f**king sick and we love him and we miss him. Health is wealth."Upcoming 2025 dates of the Busted Vs McFly TourThe Busted Vs McFly Tour is set to continue across the UK and Ireland through September, October, and November 2025.September 2025Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Birmingham, UK, at BP Pulse LiveWednesday, September 17, 2025, Birmingham, UK, at BP Pulse LiveFriday, September 19, 2025, London, UK, at OVO Arena WembleySaturday, September 20, 2025, London, UK, at The O2Sunday, September 21, 2025, London, UK, at The O2Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Cardiff, UK, at Utilita ArenaWednesday, September 24, 2025, Cardiff, UK, at Utilita ArenaFriday, September 26, 2025, Sheffield, UK, at Utilita ArenaSaturday, September 27, 2025, Leeds, UK, at First Direct ArenaSunday, September 28, 2025, Leeds, UK, at First Direct ArenaTuesday, September 30, 2025, Aberdeen, UK, at P&J LiveOctober 2025Thursday, October 2, 2025, Glasgow, UK, at OVO HydroFriday, October 3, 2025, Glasgow, UK, at OVO HydroTuesday, October 7, 2025, Liverpool, UK, at M&S Bank ArenaWednesday, October 8, 2025, Liverpool, UK, at M&S Bank ArenaFriday, October 10, 2025, Newcastle, UK, at Utilita ArenaTuesday, October 14, 2025, Nottingham, UK, at Motorpoint ArenaWednesday, October 15, 2025, Nottingham, UK, at Motorpoint ArenaFriday, October 17, 2025, Manchester, UK, at AO ArenaTuesday, October 21, 2025, Belfast, UK, at SSE ArenaNovember 2025Friday, October 31, 2025, London, UK, at The O2Saturday, November 1, 2025, London, UK, at The O2Monday, November 3, 2025, Glasgow, UK, at OVO HydroWednesday, November 5, 2025, Manchester, UK, at Co-op LiveThursday, November 6, 2025, Sheffield, UK, at Utilita ArenaSaturday, November 8, 2025, Nottingham, UK, at Motorpoint ArenaTickets for the Busted Vs McFly Tour are available through official vendors, including Aloud.Also Read: What songs did Sleep Token perform at their U.S. arena tour launch in Duluth? Complete setlist explored"Are we finally past the old drama?": Fans react as Demi Lovato praises Selena Gomez’s new album