Review: McFly vs Busted – A Nostalgic Rock Showdown at The O2

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Updated: 24th September 2025
Review: McFly vs Busted – A Nostalgic Rock Showdown at The O2

There’s something about walking into The O2 for a night of McFly vs Busted that feels less like a regular concert and more like a time machine. From the merch stand - where black bows are dressed in red and yellow, symbolic of Busted and McFly respectively - to the crowd filtering in, the arena buzzes with a particular kind of nostalgia. Converse may have been swapped for Adidas, but the slight punk edge, biker jackets, and the occasional sparkly outfit betray the remnants of early-2000s dress codes.

The arena takes its time filling, but by the fifteen-minute mark before showtime, fans are streaming back from the bar and bathroom queues. Bohemian Rhapsody blares louder than the warm-up playlist, triggering the first singalong of the night, followed by Living on a Prayer, which brings out the head-bangers. When YMCA finally drops, the lights strobe, the crowd rises, and the stage reveals its arrowhead design: sharp blue rims, a mirrored triangle overhead, and a “VS” glowing against white smoke. It’s game time.

McFly: A Power-Pop Takeover

McFly wasted no time. They tear into their set with heavy riffs, purple lighting, and lightning visuals, energy spilling straight into the crowd. “Rock and roll is good for the soul,” Danny belts, and in this room, it certainly feels true.

The hits flow fast: Star Girl has fans screaming every lyric, from little kids with their older siblings to women FaceTiming friends mid-song. That Girl transforms the arena into a ‘60s doo-wop party, and One for the Radio brings green lights, flailing guitars, and even Danny almost face-first into the drum kit. Their camaraderie is infectious; smiles beam through I’ll Be OK, harmonies soar during Obviously, and Dougie leaps across the stage with childlike joy.

By the time the red-soaked chaos of Red hits, Danny is in the audience singing to fans directly, and the crowd is bouncing like the floor itself might lift. McFly’s set closes with The Heart Never Lies, Tom at the piano under a burning heart, the band together in a heartfelt moment before disappearing under the stage.

Busted: Louder, Grittier, Unhinged

As the floor opens once more, Busted explodes upward with Crashed the Wedding. “Thanks to McFly for warming you guys up,” Matt quips, before they launch into a set that feels rougher around the edges but no less passionate.

Charlie’s vocals cut sharp on Meet You There and Why, while visuals of high-school lockers and scrapbook doodles during Loser Kid and What I Go To School For send the audience spiraling back to teenage bedrooms plastered with posters. Despite James Bourne being absent through illness, his brother Charlie Bourne fills in on guitar, while the crowd makes up the difference -  especially during Sleeping with the Light On. At Charlie’s request, thousands of phone lights shimmer, gold and silver against the dark, a reminder of the bittersweet.

The set closes in full rock-out mode with What I Go To School For, Busted disappearing as the screens flash with a “McBusted” tease.

The Showdown: McFly vs Busted

Then comes the “battle.” A blazing drum-off opens the VS section, fire shooting skyward as the band drummers pound out rhythms in competition. The bands trade blows in their own way, acoustic duets like 3 AM and Not Alone show how Danny and Charlie’s voices blend seamlessly, Matt and Dougie emerge in the audience to mock each other, while Air Hostess and 5 Colours in Her Hair whip the arena into a frenzy, colours flashing and fans screaming lyrics back louder than the PA.

“Pretty good Sunday,” Danny grins mid-set. It’s an understatement.

McBusted: The Mega Finale

For the encore, the “VS” bursts back onto the screen before fading into McBusted’s full reunion. Silhouettes emerge, the crowd erupts, and chaos reigns. Tom forgets lyrics, laughs it off, Matt licks Tom’s neck, and Dougie gets a piggyback ride. It’s messy, playful, and utterly joyous. Shine a Light glimmers with nostalgia, Year 3000 sends the crowd into delirium, and Why Can’t We Be Friends wraps things up slightly, albeit abruptly.

As the audience funnels out into the Jubilee line chaos, chatter picks apart the night: “Busted came out gritty, didn’t they?” “Danny’s vocals were insane.” Football scarves, bows, and merch bags swing as fans trade their Sunday night high for the Monday morning commute. But echoing in their heads is the last absurd note of the night, Matt yelling, “Dougie has a small dick!!!”

It’s the perfect summary, really. McFly brought the polish, Busted the grit, McBusted the chaos. Together, they gave thousands a night that wasn’t just a gig, but a full-blown throwback party. It is proof that in 2025, pop-rock’s golden boys still know how to put on the best Sunday ever.

Words by Ella Tunstall

Photo Credit Elliot Ingham