One Direction members honor 'brother' Liam Payne: 'The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever'
Members of now-defunct boy band One Direction penned heartfelt messages for their late bandmate Liam Payne, whose death on Oct. 17 came as unexpected and shocking.
The group's Instagram page returned after two years to share a joint message from Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles.
"We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing," the band said. "In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly."
"The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever," they said.
The members also wrote individual posts on their respective Instagram pages.
Styles said Payne's greatest joy was making other people happy," and it was an honor to be alongside Payne as he did it.
He added that Payne lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, and had an energy for life that was infectious.
The singer also described Payne as warm, supportive, and incredibly loving.
"The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life," Styles said. "I will miss him always, my lovely friend."
Malik, for his part, said he can't help but think "selfishly" that there were so many more conversations for him and Payne to have in their lives.
"I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life," he said, adding that when he was 17, Payne "would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile," which made him feel he was loved.
Malik noted that though Payne was younger, he was more sensible than him.
"You were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no f**ks about telling people when they were wrong," he said. "Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it."
Malik also praised Payne's music skills, calling him "the most qualified in every sense."
"I knew nothing in comparison," he said. "I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional."
He said that no matter what happened on stage, they could always rely on Payne.
"I lost a brother when you left us," Malik said, "and can't explain to you what I'd give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly."
Sharing a photo of him and Payne, Tomlinson said his late bandmate was somebody he looked up to every day as he described him as a positive, funny, and kind soul.
He recalled meeting Payne for the first time, and how he was "instantly amazed" by his voice.
"But more importantly as time went on," he said, "I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for."
He called Payne an "incredible song writer with a great sense of melody," and said they "often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band."
Tomlinson also noted that Payne was the most vital part of One Direction.
"His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on," he said.
Addressing Payne if he's "listening," Tomlinson said he feels beyond lucky to have Payne in his life, and was grateful that they got even closer when the band started.
"Reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life," he said. "I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be."
Tomlinson also vowed to be there for Bear, Payne's seven-year-old kid.
"I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was," he said.
Horan, whom Payne visited in his concert in Buenos Aires days before his passing, said Payne's death "just doesn't feel real."
He described Payne's energy for life and passion for work as "infectious."
"He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure," he continued..
Horan said all the laughs they had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness.
"We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever," he said. "The bond and friendship we had doesn't happen often in a lifetime."
Horan said he's fortunate to see Payne recently, and was unaware that saying goodbye and hugging Payne that night meant "saying goodbye forever."
"It's heartbreaking," he added.
Payne died after falling from his hotel window in Buenos Aires. He was 31. He had suffered "very serious injuries incompatible with life as a result of his fall," the head of the city's SAME emergency medical service, Alberto Crescenti, told local television, adding "there was no possibility of resuscitation." He also appeared to have suffered a fracture at the base of his skull from the fall Crescenti said was "about 13 or 14 meters" (about 43 or 46 feet).
One Direction was formed in 2010 on the reality television singing contest X Factor. Though the group only finished third place in the competition, it took the music industry by storm, forming hits like What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing, Live While We're Young, Night Changes, and Best Song Ever. It released five studio albums and won several awards, including the Billboard Music Award, MTV Video Music Award, and MTV Europe Music Awards.
In August 2015, One Direction announced that the band would take an indefinite break. Although the members denied that the hiatus was permanent, a source told Us Weekly in January 2016 that the band was done for good.
The members went on to pursue solo careers in the years that followed.