Busted’s James Bourne says brother saved his life with kidney donation

Busted guitarist James Bourne has credited his younger brother with saving his life by donating a kidney, revealing that doctors had warned he had only a few years left to live. The musician said he was recovering well following the transplant and described his brother as a hero, BBC Entertainment & Arts reported.

In an update posted in the biography section of his Spotify profile, Bourne identified the donor as his youngest brother, Chris. He said he had already begun to feel considerably better after surgery, while stressing that he would still need more time to recover. His account offered reassurance about both brothers following their operations.

The disclosure follows a period of ill health that forced Bourne to withdraw from Busted’s tour with McFly last year. Chris stepped in for him on stage during that tour, giving the latest announcement a connection to the family support that had already helped the band continue performing without him.

Bourne described a sudden change from preparing to tour to being unable to take part because of his condition. When announcing his withdrawal, he said he and his bandmates and management agreed that medical care needed to take priority. At that stage, he said there was still information about his illness that he did not have.

Earlier this year, Bourne told fans that a major operation was being planned with the aim of extending his life. He also expressed hope that treatment would eventually allow him to resume touring and making music. That earlier message outlined his ambitions without offering a firm timetable for returning to work.

Chris told The Sun that he volunteered to become a donor after James received his diagnosis, according to reporting by Media Mole. Tests subsequently showed that he was a near-perfect match. He said the prospect of helping his brother made the decision straightforward, although the timing of surgery depended on James’s wellbeing.

According to the same report, Chris said the brothers were eventually given an operation date in early October. Bourne has not publicly specified his exact underlying condition in the updates reported. His description of the seriousness of his illness, and of the improvement since surgery, remains his own account rather than a detailed medical assessment.

For now, Bourne’s message centres on gratitude to Chris and the progress both have made since the transplant. While his earlier updates made clear that returning to music remains important to him, the latest statement emphasises that recovery still requires time. It offers an encouraging update for fans, rather than a confirmed date for his return to the stage.