One Direction
Biography
One Direction was a British-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010. The group was composed of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson. They rose to global fame after finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor. Initially, each member auditioned as a solo artist but was later put together to form a band.
Formation and The X Factor
In 2010, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson all auditioned as solo candidates for the seventh series of The X Factor. Although they were eliminated as solo performers, guest judge Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell suggested they form a group, and they were put together as a boy band, thus qualifying for the "Groups" category. Harry Styles came up with the name One Direction. For their first performance as a group at the judges' houses, they sang an acoustic version of "Torn". They quickly gained popularity in the UK and ultimately finished in third place in the competition.
Rise to Global Stardom
Following The X Factor, One Direction signed a record contract with Syco Records. Their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful," was released in September 2011 and became a global hit, topping the charts in the UK. Their first album, "Up All Night," was released in 2011 and made them the first British group to have their debut album reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. The band went on to release four more successful albums: "Take Me Home" (2012), "Midnight Memories" (2013), "Four" (2014), and "Made in the A.M." (2015). They became the first band to have their first four albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200. The group embarked on several successful world tours, grossing millions and performing to sold-out stadiums.
Zayn Malik's Departure and Hiatus
On March 25, 2015, the band announced that Zayn Malik was leaving the group. Malik stated that he wanted to be a "normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight." The remaining four members continued as a group, releasing their fifth album, "Made in the A.M.," before announcing an indefinite hiatus in January 2016 to pursue solo projects. Their final televised performance as a group was on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, 2015.
Solo Careers
Since the hiatus, all five members have pursued solo careers, releasing albums and singles to varying degrees of success.
Niall Horan
Niall Horan signed a solo deal with Capitol Records. He released his debut album, "Flicker," in 2017, which included the hit singles "This Town" and "Slow Hands." His subsequent albums include "Heartbreak Weather" (2020) and "The Show" (2023).
Zayn Malik
Zayn Malik was the first to release solo material, with his debut album "Mind of Mine" (2016) and its lead single "Pillowtalk" both topping the charts in the UK and US. He has since released the albums "Icarus Falls" (2018) and "Nobody Is Listening" (2021).
Liam Payne
Liam Payne's debut solo single, "Strip That Down," was released in 2017 and was a commercial success. He released his debut album, "LP1," in 2019.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles signed with Columbia Records and released his self-titled debut album in 2017, which was a critical and commercial success. His subsequent albums, "Fine Line" (2019) and "Harry's House" (2022), have also been highly successful, with the latter winning a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Louis Tomlinson
Louis Tomlinson released his debut solo album, "Walls," in 2020, followed by "Faith in the Future" in 2022. He has also served as a judge on The X Factor.