Liam Payne, Member Of ‘One Direction’, Has Passed Away In Argentina At The Age Of 31

Music

Oct 18

Former One Direction star Liam Payne has died at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. Liam Payne found fame by auditioning for the reality TV Show The X-Factor at fourteen. He made it through to the judge's house but was sent home for being too young. Two years later, in 2010, he returned. Liam struggled at boot camp, but Simon Cowell gave him a chance to move forward by forming a boy band with four other solo competitors: Harry, Zayn, Niall, and Louis. One Direction was born. Although they didn’t win that year, they were signed by Syco Records anyway.

Liam recorded five studio albums with One Direction. The band’s popularity grew to incredible heights, “Take Me Home” took the number one spot in seventeen countries. Payne was a talented songwriter and had credits on some of the band’s biggest hits including “Story of My Life” and “Steal My Girl”. He wrote tracks for all of One Direction’s albums, including Four, where his name appears on eight out of the twelve.

When the band split in 2016, Liam released a solo album that included the hit single Strip That Down. However, it was widely reported that he struggled with drug and alcohol addictions and plans for a follow-up were cancelled to focus on his mental health. He leaves behind his partner Kate Cassidy, and child, Bear (son of Cheryl Cole).