2003 was Matt, James and Charlie's year. Thousands bought their records, then screamed, swooned and flashed their boobs. POPWORLD met the lads and asked, 'How was it for you..?'

What's been the highlight of your year?
Charlie: The first album going triple platinum - that was pretty awesome. We also went to Los Angeles and that was amazing. I hate to say it, but I prefer LA to London. America is just so cool. I think I'm going to get a house out there.
James: I loved going to LA. We saw Sherman from American Pie walking in a record store! Another highlight was that our singles went in at numbers three, then two, then we got a number one. Then there's the tour.. there's so much.
Matt: The tour was my highlight. Touring for me is the one thing that you're in a band for, so that was f***ing awesome.

Did you have an end of tour party?
James: Yeah, but it was the worst party ever! It ended too soon. I mean, I'd just done the rounds, said hello to everyone, went to get a drink and it was like 'last orders'!
Charlie: I didn't realise that everyone was going straight to the party, so I went home to get changed. By the time I got to the party, the f***ing bar had shut. To my own aftershow. Ridiculous.

You were hoping girls would flash their boobs while you were on tour. Did that happen?
Charlie: Yep. I only saw a couple of pairs though, and they were average.
Matt: We started that you have to be over the age of 17 to be able to flash your boobs at a Busted concert. I thought it was awesome, but there are times when it's not necessary. I was doing a signing and this girl just came along and went [mimes flashing]. It's just like, 'I'm sitting at a signing - stop shoving your boobs in my face!'
James: You encourage it the most though! On stage is just the best possible place to be famous. People know your songs. I started singing 'Sleeping With The Light On' and by the third line I just though 'sod this.' They were singing louder than I was, so I turned the mic out to the crowd.
Matt: We just wrote that song on an acoustic guitar in James' bedroom and then suddenly people are singing it back to you. Very strange.

Who gets the most drunk on tour?
Charlie: Matt. He always gets p***ed. I do, but only on certain occasions.
James: If I go out I like to get p***ed. Matt rinses his mini bar the most though.
Matt: In LA you can't drink. The most stupid f***ing thing I've heard, I felt like I was 14 again. I felt like such a child.

One thing you wish had happened?
Charlie: I wish I'd met Britney.

But we thought you'd gone off her because she looked like a dogs a**e?
Charlie: Ignore that statement and don't ever tell her. She's just so amazing. Now she's back to her peak.

James, have you got a girlfriend, you were spotted kissing someone gorgeous at Dashboard Confessional's gig in London?
James: Why would a girl want to be with us when we're going around the world? When I go home there's a girl I like and I see her, but she sees other people as well. I can't really have a steady girlfriend right now.

Do you mind admitting to the fans that you have girlfriends?
James: Not really. What we do in our own lives is our business, you know. If I had a girlfriend I'd definitely admit it. I'm famous but it doesn't mean that she has to be as well. You hear about other bands that have girlfriends, fans find out, it gets nasty. If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn't want to be a part of that.
Matt: Do you know what? The fans have been fine about my girlfriend, 'cos you know at the end of the day it's not actually that much of a big deal. I'm not getting married or anything so there's no need to worry.

What's the most money that you've spent this year?
Charlie: I bought a Porsche. I'm actually going to change it soon though. I'm getting a BMW X5, it's more practical. I tried to move a drumkit in my Porsche the other day and it scratched the leather. Stupid. I reckon at my age you just want a big, fat car that everoyne can fit in.
Matt: The most money I spent this year was probably my holiday in Barbados. I didn't want to stay in a hotel with kids 'cos I didn't really want the whole screaming thing. So we stayed in a hotel which was a bit snobby, but where kids weren't allowed. Trouble is, there was a hotel next door where there were loads of kids, so it sort of ruined my plans.
James: I went on holiday with my brother and two guys from McFly and we just hung out in Orlando doing all the parks. We made loads of American friends. It was really good because nobody knew I was in a band - I said I was a fishmonger.

Now you're famous, what do people buy you for Christmas? You must have everything..
James: Someone drew me a portrait of my dog Harry for my birthday. Charlie bought me a bottle of port - it was from the year of my birth. And he got me a cigar as well, which I've never smoked.
Charlie: Yeah, it p***ed me off that he doesn't smoke it.
Matt: Last Christmas we had this great idea that we'd buy each other toys 'cos we don't get toys anymore, we just get aftershave and socks. So we did, and they were the worst presents in the world - no one's used them. I've got a Scalextric set that I've never set up. James got a f***ing train set and a remote-controlled car from Charlie which he used for a while - he mastered how to make it skid and stuff - but then I think he got a bit bored with it.

So, what's the plan for next year?
James: We're going to America in May. Hopefully we'll stay in a hotel near an In And Out burger bar. We won't completely desert England, it's just that we're going to be in the US a lot. I really want to break America.
Charlie: Everything's beginning to start out there. We had our first photo shoot over there, which was cool.

How have you had to change this year?
James: I've had to become more grown up. I don't live at home, I've got my own place. We're famous now but I don't constantly act that I'm famous. I actually think that really famous people would be shocked if they walked down the street - less people would recognise them than they think. It's about having the guts to do it. On lots of occasions, I'll put a hat on and get on the tube. If Robbie Williams just put a hat on and made himself discreet he could go out and get groceries.
Matt: My life's changed s***loads in the last year. But you're still the same person, you still enjoy the same s***.
Charlie: Well it couldn't really have changed more could it? I can't go out now without getting recognised. I always think people who say fame is annoying are tw*ts, but it can be annoying. It is hard when you can't do day-to-day things. Like, the other day I went to a bowling alley with my friends. When we got there there were all these kids outside, for f***'s sake. You can't just do normal things.

Who, our of the three of you, will end up in rehab?
Matt: Christ, I don't know. None of us man. We're all far to f***ing sensible and boring for that. We must be the most un-pop starry pop stars ever! We don't go out to w***y places and get seen by photographers, we don't do the parties, we don't do anything like that. Like, for instance, so far I've been out once this week. My mates came round to my house last night and I went to The British Legion with my dad the other night. That's my f***ing party antics. How rock 'n' roll is that?!

Sum up where your heads are right now.
Matt: I'm just f***ing cruising man! Me and James decided the other day that our favourite pastime is sitting down. It's so good, just to sit down and chill. It's so weird it's unreal, it's awesome.
James: My life is so cool.
Charlie: [Notices the white clothes for POPWORLD's photo shoot.] Why is there lots of white clothing?
Because you're wearing white.
Charlie: Why? That looks like f***ing Westlife.
It won't.
Charlie: OK. Can I wear the coat?