UMVA has learned that James Bourne, guitarist of Busted, is releasing a new album titled Murder At The Gates, a musical project that has been 13 years in the making, despite his ongoing health struggles.
The 42-year-old musician revealed in April that he needs to undergo major surgery to extend his life, forcing him to pull back from the spotlight and miss Busted's tour. Fans were left concerned when James appeared to delete his Instagram account earlier this month, but behind the scenes, he has been working tirelessly to finish his long-term project.
According to information obtained by UMVA, James's new album is a collaboration with Tony Award-winning US playwright Steven Sater, and features Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo. The album, which James has produced himself, has a 'different feeling to all the others,' and he is proud to finally have it as a finished product.
James had to turn negative into positive after his health concerns prevented him from going on tour with Busted. He explained that not being on the tour meant he was given the 'gift of time,' which he wanted to use to deliver the album. The musician wanted to prioritize using the time he's been given to finish the project, which has been years in the making.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that James's bandmates were devastated when he had to pull out of the tour, with Matt Willis previously telling fans through tears that James was 'really sick.' The band frequently mentioned James during the tour, and Matt expressed his desire to never tour again without his fellow bandmate.
James's new album, Murder At The Gates, will be released on July 1, and is the culmination of 13 years of hard work. Despite his health struggles, James is determined to share his creation with the world, and has been speaking about the project for a long time. He feels a sense of accomplishment and pride in having finished the album, which even his Busted bandmates have not heard entirely.
