Charlie: 'I'm willing to quit Busted'

Busted singer Charlie Simpson has admitted that he's willing to quit the band to spend more time on his side project.

Rumours that the 19-year-old was planning to quit the pop group surfaced last month, with reports claiming that he wanted Busted to split while they were "at the top."

Now Simpson has admitted that Busted isn't the "ideal" band for him and would prefer to divert his energies to his second project, rock group Fightstar.

"If that situation came up then, at the end of the day, my passion lies in Fightstar's music," he told Kerrang! magazine. "I can see why people are suspicious.

"Lots of people say to me, 'I completely hate Busted.' That's completely cool with me. I understand why.

"I can't say too much because of the politics involved, but Fightstar is what I do and so, if i have to choose, there's not even a question as to what I'd do."

Busted bandmates Matt Jay and James Bourne have already agreed to take a break for the first part of the year to allow Charlie to tour and release an album with Fightstar.

He added: "The Busted thing happened when I was 16. I saw an opportunity, took it and it was better than being at school. It was a fun job but I'd never claim Busted was anything other than a pop band.

"Busted is not the ideal band I'd like to be in by any stretch of the imagination.

"It's not about the money. The money means nothing to me. I'm completely at peace with myself doing this so I'm happy with whatever comes with it."