Liam Payne struggled with being in comparison with his One Direction bandmates, based on the late musician’s songwriting accomplice.
“To see his bandmates and have that direct comparability — it’s unavoidable for him to see that on a regular basis,” Sam Preston mentioned in an interview with Rolling Stone revealed Tuesday, February 11. “And if there was somebody who’s liable to addictive, problematic behaviors, then I feel that’s only a very tough scenario to be in.”
Payne was a member of One Route alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Collectively, the group turned one of many best-selling boy bands of all time. Following the success, the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. All 5 members ended up pursuing solo careers.
Malik, Horan and Kinds all discovered success with their debut albums. Kinds, 31, went on to earn Grammy nods and awards for his later work. As Payne additionally labored on his solo music, he teamed up with Preston, 43, who additionally had boy band roots. The previous Extraordinary Boys singer claimed that Payne put stress on himself to match his former counterparts.
From the second One Route was fashioned, Liam Payne discovered himself with 4 further brothers for all times. Because of the artistic minds of The X Issue UK judges Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Kinds, Louis Tomlinson and Payne got here collectively in 2010 to create a life-changing boy band. […]
“He was like, ‘Nicely, I’ve to be probably the most profitable male solo artist, or I’m a failure.’ However that’s an virtually unattainable process,” he instructed the outlet.
Whereas Payne needed to make the very best music he probably may, Preston shared that he may inform that Payne had a present.
“You might sense there was an actual brilliance to him that he was virtually afraid of letting folks see,” he recalled. “He was such a gifted musician, and he may enable himself to be so uncooked.”
Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a lodge balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31. Payne’s cause of death was listed as “a number of traumas,” together with hemorrhages in his chest, cranium and stomach. It was later reported {that a} partial post-mortem discovered “pink cocaine” — a mixture of methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA — together with cocaine, benzodiazepine and crack in his system on the time of his passing. (Payne had been candid about his struggles with substance abuse over time.)
Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Kinds of One Route on the 2011 BBC Teen Awards Dave Hogan/Getty Photos
After information broke of Payne’s demise, One Route released a statement collectively.
“We’re utterly devastated by the information of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everybody is ready to, there shall be extra to say,” the band wrote. “However for now, we’ll take a while to grieve and course of the lack of our brother, who we liked dearly. The recollections we shared with him shall be treasured endlessly. For now, our ideas are together with his household, his pals and the followers who liked him alongside us. We’ll miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Malik, Horan, Kinds and Tomlinson reunited to attend Payne’s funeral in Amersham, England, in November 2024. This was the primary time the 4 remaining band members have been collectively since Malik, 32, left One Route in 2015.
A supply instructed Us Weekly in December 2024 that Payne’s demise was a “wake-up name” for the foursome to strengthen their friendship.
The Recording Academy remembered Liam Payne in the course of the 2025 Grammys on Sunday, February 2, practically 5 months after his demise. Footage of Payne throughout his One Route days was proven on the prime of the In Memoriam section. His voice may very well be heard as music performed within the background. “We by no means anticipated any of this […]
“Prior, they stored in contact sporadically however didn’t have shut friendships in any respect,” the insider defined. “They’re all nonetheless mourning however are checking in on one another and really feel nearer than they’ve in years. It introduced them again collectively.”
Final month, Tomlinson, 33, supported Malik at his live performance in Los Angeles. “Tonight’s one thing particular. An outdated good friend of mine is right here for me tonight,” Malik instructed the gang, as seen in a fan video shared by way of X. “I don’t need to give his location away, however Louis is right here tonight.”
The video confirmed Tomlinson seated in a field within the venue, tapping his coronary heart in appreciation.
