NORFOLK – One Direction, formed on The X Factor in 2010, quickly rose to global stardom, becoming one of the biggest pop acts of the decade. In just five years the band released five studio albums and went on four world tours, but where are they now?
In 2010, One Direction joined forces on The X Factor, which was a Bristish singing competition show. The five band members: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne each joined separately before being put together by the judging panel.
Rolling Stone contributing editor Rob Sheffield described the unusual way the band was formed.
“They were sort of assigned to be together. And you don’t expect longevity out of that situation. Honestly, you don’t even expect one good pop record to come out of that situation,” Sheffield said.
“And yet, not only did it work, but One Direction created “a new template for pop stardom, really,” Sheffield recalled.
The band automatically became a hit with their release of ‘What Makes You Beautiful’ in 2010 and the song continued to gain popularity. Emerging social media platforms aided in their success at the time.
California native, Gabrielle Kopera, described to The Associated Press how she created accounts to keep up with the band.
“I honestly made a Twitter account so that I could keep up with One Direction, and that’s how I made so many different friends,” said Kopera “Sometimes they would say something back and it was so much fun. I feel like that fan interaction doesn’t even happen anymore.”
The band continued to release five studio albums and go on four world tours in five years. However, things changed on March 25, 2015, when band member Zayn Malik announced he was leaving the band for personal reasons.
In a statement published, Malik stated his reason for leaving the group in the middle of their last tour.
“I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight,” Malik said “I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”
Less than a year later in January of 2016, the four remaining members of One Direction announced their departures from the group. It was speculated that the hiatus was a result of stress and toxicity from their manager, Simon Cowell.
All members then went on to focus on their respective solo careers.
Harry Styles became the most prominent solo artist of the group, releasing critically acclaimed albums like Harry Styles (2017) and Fine Line (2019), with hits such as “Sign of the Times” and “Watermelon Sugar.”
Niall Horan embraced a more folk-pop sound with his solo projects, debuting with Flicker (2017) and following up with Heartbreak Weather (2020). His singles “Slow Hands” and “Nice to Meet Ya” were big on the music charts.
Liam Payne’s solo work has leaned towards a mix of pop and R&B, with his debut album LP1 (2020) featuring songs like “Strip That Down” and “Midnight.”
Louis Tomlinson has stayed true to his roots with a pop-rock sound, releasing his debut solo album Walls (2020). His singles “Back to You” and “Two of Us” received praised reviews from his audience.
Zayn Malik debuted his first album Mind of Mine (2016) featured the hit “Pillow talk,” and he has continued to experiment with moody, atmospheric sounds in later releases like Icarus Falls (2018) and Nobody Is Listening (2021).
On October 26, 2024, Liam Payne tragically died when he fell from his hotel room balcony in Argentina.
The death of Payne was deemed a tragedy and fans mourned the loss of the pop star. Tomlinson, Styles, Malik and Horan made a joint statement on social media the day after Payne’s death.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” the band’s joint statement says, adding the “memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
The band’s songs then reentered the charts, years after they were released with six of the band’s songs charting on the Billboard Global 200, which ranks songs based on worldwide sales.
As One Direction’s individual paths continue to evolve, their legacy as one of the most influential boy bands of all time remains firmly intact. While fans continue to hold out hope for a reunion, the band’s impact on pop music and their global fanbase is undeniable.
