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Former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away on October 16, 2024, from injuries sustained from a fall from his hotel balcony in Argentina, according to reports of the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Office published by Fox News on October 17, 2024.
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His death has left fans devastated and shocked. Liam Payne started his career as a contestant on the seventh season of X Factor in 2010. Popular British boy band One Direction was formed by Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger after the season’s auditions. Payne, alongside fellow contestants Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson, pooled their talents to become the group.
One Direction became one of the bestselling music groups of all time. The 31-year-old was renowned for his singing talents and musical contributions to One Direction. He is credited as a songwriter on several of the group’s hits, including Last First Kiss, Story of My Life, and Fireproof.
After the band announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016, Liam Payne, fondly called Daddy Direction by fans, went on to pursue a solo career, releasing hit songs like Strip it Down and Get Low, in addition to selling over 23 million singles.
From boy band star to solo artist: Liam Payne’s career highlights explored
1) The X Factor 2008 and 2010
Liam Payne first appeared as a contestant on the British televised singing competition, X Factor, in 2008 at the age of 14 but couldn’t qualify past the Judges’ House stage. He returned to the show in 2010 and later formed a five-piece boy band with Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. The group emerged in third place at the end of the competition.
2) Signing with Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment in 2010
Payne and his four bandmates were signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment in December 2010. They released their first single, What Makes You Beautiful, which peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles chart. The group released five critically acclaimed albums and became the first band to have their first four albums debut atop the Billboard 200 chart.
3) Up All Night Tour and 3 other commercially successful tours (2011 to 2015)
Payne and his other One Direction bandmates embarked on their first tour as a group, the Up All Night Tour, to promote their debut album of the same name. The tour lasted from December 2011 to July 2012 and was held in different countries, including England, Australia, the United States, and Mexico.
Up All Night was followed by three other tours, Take Me Home, Where We Are, and On the Road Again, which were held from 2013 to 2015. One Direction’s last tour, On The Road Again, became the second highest-grossing tour of 2015, with reported earnings of over $208 million.
4) Signing with Republic Records in 2016
Following the group's indefinite hiatus in January 2016, Liam Payne signed with Republic Records in North America in October of the same year. He joined popular singers like Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, and Drake. He would go on to release his debut single the following year.
5) Release of debut solo single, Strip That Down, in 2017
The talented singer collaborated with American rapper Quavo to release his debut single, Strip That Down. With this track, Liam Payne shed his boy band image for bolder lyrics for a more mature audience.
The debut song peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and has sold 11.5 million units worldwide.
6) Release of LP1 in 2019
Payne released his first and only solo album, LP1, in December 2019. The album, which features seven tracks including Strip That Down, Get Low, Bedroom Floor, Familiar, and Stack it Up, borrows elements of pop, trap music, hip hop, and R&B. It peaked at number 111 on the Billboard 200 and 17 on UK Albums chart.
7) Planned solo tour and second studio album in 2023
As per a publication from Rolling Stone, the late singer shared in May 2023 that he was working on a new album and discussed having more creative control than his last one. Liam Payne’s first solo tour was scheduled for September 2023 but was reportedly postponed when he came down with a kidney infection
8) Release of Teardrops in 2024
Liam Payne returned to music after his recovery with the release of Teardrops in March 2024. The track was his first single since Sunshine (2021) and is also his final song. The song received praise from music critics, and Clash magazine described it as resonating with listeners who were going through pain. The song peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles Downloads chart.
In a statement released by Payne's family to PA media, reported by CBS News on October 17, 2024, they described their sadness at his passing:
"We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and we'll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul."
Tributes and messages have continued to pour in from colleagues and fans.
