On October 16, former One Direction member turned solo artist Liam Payne was found dead at 31 after a fall from his third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Local officials were responding to calls regarding an aggressive, possibly intoxicated individual, when they showed up to find Payne’s body in the hotel courtyard. The body was positively identified as Payne after being declared dead on scene.
According to multiple social media posts, Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of former bandmate Niall Horan, currently on tour for his third solo album. One Direction went on indefinite hiatus in 2016 after dropping their fifth album.
One Direction was formed in 2010 after the five members, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, went on to the British show The X Factor to audition as solo performers. Although none of them managed to win as individual artists, the show’s producers decided to group them together and subsequently created one of the biggest boy bands in history.
Throughout the years they were together, One Direction recorded and released five albums, with Malik leaving the group after the fourth one. They released a total of 91 songs, including 10 songs in the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, with all of their albums on the Billboard Hot 200, including four number one albums and one number two album.
After the hiatus commenced, each member followed their own path in becoming a solo artist. Payne has since released 1 studio album, 2 extended plays, and 9 singles. His most successful song, Strip That Down ft. Quavo, reached number ten in the Billboard Hot 100.
Payne’s death comes at a shock to many in the community, with Charlie Puth, Paris Hilton, and many others paying tribute and offering their condolences to his family. Payne was not only a friend to many, but also a boyfriend of two years to Kate Cassidy, a younger brother to sisters Ruth Gibbins and Nicola Payne, and a son to Karen and Geoff Payne. Payne is also survived by his 7-year old son, Bear. Payne has left a huge impact on fans around the world and will be remembered for decades to come.
