Oh. Em. Eff. Gee.

It started with Busted.

At the end of 2002, What I Go To School For was released and I became obsessed. I was only 9 at the time, so my memories of the time seem to be a blurred muddle - especially with the monotonous primary school drivel in the way. But I remember spending any pocket money I had on pop magazines, just because Busted were on the covers.

I remember chattering excitedly in school to people about Busted, and singing my heart out to tracks like Year 3000, Dawson's Geek and You Said No in my bedroom. (I used to censor the word 'naked' from my renditions of Britney, because I thought it was a bad word!)

I remember spending ages in Woolworths, trying to decide which version of the Crashed The Wedding single to buy, only to end up buying both. This led to my first taste of McFly, thanks to their collab. with Busted on their cover of Build Me Up Buttercup on CD1.

Then along came Five Colours In Her Hair in March of 2004, fully igniting my love for McFly.

Suddenly, I had two bands to struggle to choose a favourite from. Saying that, the fact that they seemed to get along well with each other made it feel like I didn't have to choose between them, which was fantastic - even though at the time I didn't realise the full story behind their friendship and their work together. I just remember being thrilled when Busted collaborated with McFly again on Lola, the B-side of Five Colours.

This was a time before I was computer savvy, and Twitter didn’t exist, so I had to use those magazines I bought – now containing features on McFly as well as Busted – to try and keep myself up to date on what was happening in terms of their music releases.

It was through this avenue, and that of the newspapers, that I found out about the Busted: Ticket For Everyone tour. By this time, I think the winter tour was already on sale, while the spring one was underway, so my mum phoned up the box office at Wembley and managed to get us tickets.

I was so excited. I was on a buzz for the whole year. I don’t think people at school heard the end of it.

I went to see them with my mum on Monday 13th December 2004, on one of their five Wembley dates. It was my first ever concert and I LOVED it. I remember the anticipation I felt, waiting for them to come on stage. I remember that McFly’s video to Room on the Third Floor was played on the screens beforehand, which was exciting, for me. I had heard about McFly supporting Busted on tour earlier in the year, and had hoped it would be the same for this show. It turned out that that wasn’t the case – V supported, though, and they were great. I think I vaguely remember a second support act, though I admittedly can’t remember who it was for the life of me.

That concert was amazing. I remember we were seated in one of the side blocks – well, my mum was. I was on my feet the whole time. With my mum being nervous about any kind of height, she was constantly flinging her arm in front of me to make sure I didn’t go flying while I was bopping up and down. The atmosphere in that arena was incredible and I absolutely loved every minute of it.

Afterwards, I experienced my first ever attack of post-concert ringing in my ears, which continued through to the next day. I think it even bagged me a day off school, with the help of my barely-there voice.

It was just a month later that Busted had split. I found out through my mum, as I was still too young to pay enough attention to the news and suchlike (I admit that I didn’t actually see the press conference clip until years later, when I discovered YouTube). I remember that when she told me, I thought she was joking around, an April Fools’ prank executed three months too soon. After she eventually managed to convince me it was true…well… I think heartbroken is the best way to describe the state I went into. As I’ve said, they were the first band I’d ever really loved, and being young and naïve, I’d been under the impression they’d be around for a much longer time.

In the years that followed, my loyalty to McFly strengthened, and my love for them grew. Meanwhile I also kept an eye on the progress of James and Matt as much as I could, with the help of newspapers, music channels, Saturday morning TV shows and, of course, Woolworths. I still have the artwork poster for Son Of Dork’s Eddie’s Song on my wall, and hearing Matt’s cover of Crash in Mr Bean’s Holiday makes the film 10 times better for me.

I’d given Fightstar a quick listen when I’d seen one of their music videos on the TV, and it wasn’t the kind of music that appealed to me, so my interest in Charlie lapsed a lot, and it’s never really picked back up.

I didn’t actually get to see McFly live until I was 17. Although they had played at the Rochester Castle Concerts in 2009, it was on the same day as the school play, which I’d promised my friend I’d go and see her in. So when my mum bought me tickets for the Above The Noise tour at Wembley, and decided I was old enough to be able to go to a concert without her, I was ecstatic. I’d invited along my friend Ashley, who I’d only recently started talking to after 6 years since we’d left the primary school we’d both gone to. In fact, I think it was that McFly show that set us on the road to becoming best friends.

The plan was to go straight to Wembley after sixth form on the Friday so, as you can imagine, focusing on work for that day was near enough impossible.

I think I did lots of bouncing up and down in the queue that night, unable to contain my excitement. Our seats were in one of the side blocks again; though on the opposite side to where I’d been at the Busted concert.

Needless to say, that concert was incredible. I hardly stood still, and came close to losing my voice again, seeing as I was constantly screaming, whooping and yelling lyrics back at McFly. As my first trip to a concert in 6 years, it was an absolutely amazing one to start with, and I was buzzing about it for at least a week afterwards.

In the few years that have followed, I’ve seen McFly at least once on each of their tours or sets of shows they’ve done since Above The Noise: Keep Calm and Play Louder at Margate in 2012; Memory Lane at Wembley in 2013; their 10th Anniversary shows at The Royal Albert Hall (RAH) in 2013 (twice). I haven’t yet quite made up for the 7-ish years of their existence in the music industry when I did not manage to see them live, but I’m working on it.

In the years since I first saw McFly live, especially since I discovered Twitter, my obsession grew all the more, as you may have seen if you follow me. Then one day, I listened to the cover of Build Me Up Buttercup they did with Busted for the first time in a while. At that time, I considered the idea of the two groups joining together for a ‘mega tour’. (I know it seems like I’m playing the smug ‘Look at me, I’m psychic’ card, but it was just a passing idea that I didn’t really think would happen).

I was over the moon when James played a short set before the Memory Lane Wembley show, especially after it being a year since I’d seen him in London on his own acoustic tour.

Then at the RAH shows… McBusted happened.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The first show I went to was the Thursday – the first of their four-show run – so no one had any idea of the surprises McFly had in store for us. When the intro to Year 3000 filled the room and James and Matt jumped out on that stage with McFly – holy crapola, the room just erupted. And I mean erupted. The screams were deafening, the atmosphere was electric, and the excitement was overwhelming. Words can’t even justify it. I know I’ve used this word multiple times now, but it was, truly, incredible.

When the Saturday came along, I was excited to see the 10th Anniversary show again, and the still-raw formation of McBusted played a big part in that. The seat I had this time gave me a better view of the stage, so I could see how much they were enjoying sharing it together. It was the first time I’d seen Matt on stage since the Wembley show in 2004, so it was great to see him having such a great time. It was clear that he and James were back to doing what they love, and with people they get on so well with. There is no denying, with the chemistry running through that stage, it just worked so well, and it looked like they were having the most fun ever.

After the RAH shows had finished their run, and videos of McBusted spread across the internet, I saw Twitter filled with calls for them to tour as a group – something I was hoping would happen as well.

Then in early November, they announced an arena tour, and I think the fangirl inside me did a few somersaults.

Getting tickets was a little bit of a nightmare, to say the least: they sold out so quickly, and even when there were extras released, I was being offered seats among the clouds in the O2 Arena – not good, considering my aversion to heights. Eventually, with a lot of persistence and a stroke of luck, I managed to bag myself a floor-level seat, for more than half the price I’d been about to pay on ViaGoGo for a not-such-a-good-seat in one of the side blocks.

April could not come around quick enough. I booked myself the Saturday off work, knowing I would need to give myself enough time to get to the venue without getting lost. Just as well, actually, because railway-engineering works meant I had to walk to Strood just to get the train into London.

I ended up arriving at the O2 in plenty of time, and headed straight for the merchandise stand. I bought myself a McBusted necklace and a t-shirt, and one of their ‘OMFG Tins’, containing signed plectrums and drumsticks, and the chance of winning ticket upgrades into the OMFG zone. (I was clearly given the wrong tin…)

After taking my seat in Block C, the excitement was building ten-fold – especially when I spotted the big, round, mysterious silver thing hovering not far above my head.

The support acts I saw for this tour – EofE, Young Brando and The 3 Dudes – weren’t too bad. However, I admit: I was disappointed that, although Hollywood Ending were going to be supporting McBusted on tour, it wasn’t going to be until 11th May.

Finally, it was time.

The lights went down as the big screens that flanked the stage showed a clip of the press conference where Busted had announced their split. Matt and James were shown leaving the conference, hugging each other goodbye. Matt watched as James got in his car and drove off, then hung his head, visibly pondering over what the next step would be.

Then, all of a sudden…

“MATT!’

Matt whipped his head round to see James running towards him, looking panicked, and with distinctly wavier hair.

‘Matt!’ he called again, grabbing his friend by the arms to steady himself as he came to a stop in front of him.

Matt stared at James, a bewildered look in his eye (the other being covered from view by his gelled down curtain of black hair).

‘We gotta go back!’ said James, distress filling his voice.

‘Back?!’ Matt cried, still looking stunned. ‘Back where?!’

James looked directly into Matt’s eye(s), drama filling his own, as he said, ‘Back…to the future!’

The tension built, as the unmistakeable instrumental music from the films filled the arena, and Matt and James gazed off into the distance.

*Cut to McFly in their dressing room.*

The tune of ‘Back In Time’ by Huey Lewis is playing in the background, as Danny, Dougie, Tom and Harry lark about with each other.

*Cut back to James and Matt*

James shows Matt his DeLorean, lights flashing, its MCBUSTED licence plate emboldening as the smoke clears. They get into the car in true BTTF fashion, and James keys in the date: 26th April, 2014 and --- the engine fails!

*Cut to McFly, who are carefully tarting themselves up in the dressing room*

"Uhh, guys.?" says Dougie, his voice lined with worried confusion. He had clearly employed his best acting skills for this line.

Danny, Harry and Tom turn to face him and they all look down upon the cover of the 'McBusted 2014' tour programme, watching as the text changes to 'McFly', and the six silhouetted figures embossed above become four.

Meanwhile, James jabs away at buttons in the DeLorean, before having his attention drawn to the change in the cover of their own copy of the tour programme.

"WHAT'S HAPPENIIIIING..?!" yells Dougie, his portrayal of a bass player in despair truly worthy of an Oscar.

Panicking, James headbutts the steering wheel of the DeLorean and HOLY COW, the Flux Capacitor has been shocked into life, the engine gives a rumble.

McFly are seen yanking on last minute additions to their stage outfits, Tom struggling to keep balance while he jams his shoe onto his foot. They sprint out of their dressing room, each clutching their guitar or drumsticks, in a desperate rush for the stage.

We see James slam his foot onto the accelerator.

The car disappears from the car park in a flash of lightning, leaving blazing trails of fire in its wake.

JAMES AND MATT ENTERED IN THE DELOREAN. Seriously, there was smoke, lightning flashes, the Back To The Future theme playing in the background. The crowd around me was going nuts, as was I, as McFly popped up from trap doors under the stage.

BEST.

ENTRANCE.

EVER.

They opened with Air Hostess and then stormed through You Said No. Of course, I went a little bit hyper. As the set continued through a selection of hits by McFly and Busted, I could feel myself wandering down the path of Memory Lane, and probably looked like I was dosed up on buckets of Red Bull. The energy on stage matched mine, and that of most of the crowd, with the guys clearly having the best time.

Then, just after the enigmatic Sleeping With The Light On, the room went dark, the stage was emptied of people and a news report started playing on the large screens. Intelligent looking country bumpkins were being interviewed and giving their insightful accounts of a UFO they’d witnessed in the sky. I have to admit; they looked suspiciously like the guys from McBusted… ;)

The news report ended abruptly, interrupted by the start of Star Girl. The ‘big, round, mysterious silver thing hovering not far above my head’ became a mass of light, and started to descend over the crowd. It continued to lower itself further and further as the song continued, until it landed in the middle of the floor.

On top of it were McBusted. Playing Star Girl. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I think I almost lost my voice at that point. I was screaming and whooping along with the others around me. I was singing my heart out as they continued through  Nerdy and Room On The Third Floor.

After making their way back to the main stage, Danny, James and Matt busted(ha!) out a wicked dance routine to I Want You Back by the Jackson 5, before firing t-shirts into the crowd.

The last few songs included Shine A Light and Thunderbirds Are Go and carried the same high energy with them as the rest of the setlist had.

A spoof of Tom’s wedding speech video was used for the intro of Crashed the Wedding (during which Matt wore a wedding dress, which suited him just as much as the one he’d worn for the music video).

Giant, inflatable tennis-, cricket-, basket- and footballs bounced around in the crowd during What I Go To School For.

Then for Year 3000, a set of three giant, inflatable boobs hovered above the crowd. I don’t mean three pairs of giant, inflatable boobs. I mean a set of three, as in a ‘triple-breasted women’ set of three. (I think that was Dougie’s idea).

It was such an epic show. It honestly had everything. I’ve seen some damn creative stuff at each of the McFly shows I’ve been to, and teaming up with James and Matt seemed to have brought that imagination out more. It was honestly like I’d spent a night in the minds of McBusted. And it was indescribably awesome.

At the end, the words ‘To Be Continued’ showed on the screens in the Back To The Future style font (what other font would they use, really?), which just added to my excitement.

While I realise that the time since then has been filled with work and suchlike, it’s still hard to believe that it’s coming up to two months since the show. I would love to relive the resurrection of my childhood all over again.

I wish I could go to see them at their show in Hyde Park, but seeing as it’s the day after my cousin’s wedding, I can imagine I’ll still have a schedule full of family time for that day – which is slightly disappointing. However, I do have high hopes of seeing the guys live again soon, mostly because it was so much fun to see them having so much fun on stage!

Honestly, if you get chance to see McBusted live, then do please take it. They are incredible, and put on such an amazing show, enjoyed both by themselves and by the thousands of people they’re playing for.

I realise that it’s taken me a long time to finish this and get it posted – life has seemed busy lately, even at times when I haven’t actually been all that busy. So, my apologies for the delay!

Also, thank you for putting up with the essay I’ve given you here… I do tend to ramble now and again, in case that wasn’t already obvious, and you must be an incredibly patient person with lots of perseverance! (Or just lots of free time…)