Celebrity Fan: McBusted’s Danny Jones (Bolton)

It’s been a little over 10 years since the boys from McFly and Busted stormed the UK charts with their brand of ‘pop rock’.

But in 2013 it was announced the two bands would unite to form super group McBusted. A UK top-10 album and a huge UK arena tour followed, culminating in headlining British Summertime Hyde Park in July 2014.

Now, with a 2015 tour in the pipeline, Andrew Harris spoke to frontman and Bolton Wanderers fan Danny Jones about the band’s success and his love for his hometown club.

What’s the response been like since releasing the band’s first album, ‘McBusted’, in December?

“It’s been mental! There’s been a huge response from the fans and everyone! Considering when we got together in 2013 there was no plan for an album, only the initial tour. It’s all fallen into place really.”

Have things gone better than expected since you got together in 2013?

“Yeah! Considering we only put 11 dates in the diary for the first tour, it grew into 34 dates all over the UK. Headlining Hyde Park was something we never thought would happen. We start our UK tour in March this year up in Glasgow, on my birthday as well which will be mad! Personally I’m really looking forward to playing the Manchester Arena and the O2, they’re my favourite venues.”

To football now, what’s your earliest memory of being a Bolton fan?

“It has to be being stood in the Burnden Stand at Burnden Park when the ball came into the crowd and I caught it. I looked up and saw David Ginola waiting for me to throw it back to him! That was pretty cool.”

What about your fondest memory?

“Apart from the David Ginola one it has to be seeing players like David Lee, John McGinlay and Mixu Paatelainen playing for the club. They were great times for Bolton Wanderers.”

Do you go to many games these days?

“Not as many as I’d like to. I only really get to see the games that are on TV. I try and keep up with stuff as much as I can though and Twitter helps with that. The ‘behind the scenes’ updates the club do are really good for keeping up to date.”

Are these exciting times for the club now Neil Lennon is in charge?

“It’s a massive appointment for Bolton. I remember when I heard about it I got that funny feeling, like a little kid, really excited about what he will bring. He’s the type of manager who will get the team going and playing well and it’s a great feeling to have a manager at the club like that again. Signing players like Emile Heskey is amazing, he’s such a legend. I didn’t even know we’d signed him until someone told me he’d scored on his debut!”

Do you have any Bolton or football memorabilia that’s a bit different?

“I’ve got the usual signed shirts and the club still sends me the latest shirts signed by the squad which is great! My favourite item though has got to be my players’ player of the month award from the Phil Brown soccer schools I used to go to. It had a little Bolton Wanderers crest on it!”

Who’s your favourite ever Bolton player and why?

“It’s got to be Gretar Steinsson! He’s actually a really good friend of mine now and he came on my stag do! Other than Steinsson it would have to be David Lee. My full name is actually Daniel Alan David Jones so I was named after him!”

Away from Bolton, who’s your favourite current player and why?

“It was Paul Scholes before he retired but if I was to pick now it would be either Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez has been on fie this season, his work rate is amazing. They’re both the type of player you love to watch, really exciting and get you off your seat!”

Do the other McBusted guys like football? Is there much banter flying around?

“There’s only me and Harry really. Harry’s an Arsenal fan! We play in a local 5-a-side team which is good fun. Tom used to play before he got a pretty bad injury so he’s not played for a while!”

McBusted’s new album ‘McBusted’ is on sale now. Their UK tour starts in Glasgow in March, tickets on sale now.

Details:
Web: www.mcbusted.com
Twitter: @mcbusted
Facebook: McBusted