Liam Payne struggled with being in comparison with his One Route bandmates, in keeping with the late musician’s songwriting associate.
“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 vulnerable to addictive, problematic behaviors, then I feel that’s only a very tough state of affairs to be in.”
Payne was a member of One Route alongside Harry Kinds, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. Collectively, the group grew to become 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 Peculiar Boys singer claimed that Payne put strain on himself to match his former counterparts.
From the second One Route was shaped, Liam Payne discovered himself with 4 extra brothers for all times. Because of the inventive 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, ‘Properly, I’ve to be essentially the most profitable male solo artist, or I’m a failure.’ However that’s an virtually not possible job,” he advised the outlet.
Whereas Payne wished to make the most effective music he presumably may, Preston shared that he may inform that Payne had a present.
“You possibly can sense there was an actual brilliance to him that he was virtually afraid of letting folks see,” he recalled. “He was such a proficient musician, and he may permit 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 reason for loss of life 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 through the years.)
Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Kinds of One Route on the 2011 BBC Teen Awards Dave Hogan/Getty Photographs
After information broke of Payne’s loss of life, One Route launched a press release collectively.
“We’re fully devastated by the information of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everybody is ready to, there can be extra to say,” the band wrote. “However for now, we are going to take a while to grieve and course of the lack of our brother, who we liked dearly. The reminiscences we shared with him can be treasured perpetually. For now, our ideas are together with his household, his buddies and the followers who liked him alongside us. We are going to 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 advised Us Weekly in December 2024 that Payne’s loss of life 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 loss of life. 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 saved 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 previous good friend of mine is right here for me tonight,” Malik advised 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.
