Niall Horan has opened up about the death of his former One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, sharing his reflections in a recent interview with The Times U.K.. Horan revealed that he spent time with Payne in Argentina just weeks before his passing.
Liam Payne's Passing
Payne tragically died on October 16, 2024, after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was 31 years old.
“I’m glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy,” Horan said. “It still feels surreal. On day one I was, like, ‘Nah, it didn’t happen.’ Our friendship was a bond that was there forever even if we hadn’t seen each other for a while and it’s wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he’s gone.”
Remembering Good Times
While Payne’s death brings sadness, Horan chooses to focus on the joyful memories they shared. “When I think of Liam’s passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had,” Horan continued. “I’ll go to places and think of something stupid in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh. We always had good fun in Australia because we were able to get out and go to the beach. Liam wasn’t too bad at surfing. I can barely swim.”
A Tribute in Music
Horan is preparing to release his fourth studio album, Dinner Party, which features a track dedicated to Payne. The song, titled “End of an Era,” is a nod to Payne's musical tastes. Horan commented, “I think it’s his type of song, he liked Coldplay, he loved songs like ‘You & I’ by One Direction, songs that went somewhere.”
One Direction's Legacy
One Direction, formed on The X Factor in 2010, included Payne, Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. The band quickly rose to international fame and remained a sensation until March 2015, when Malik exited. The group continued as a quartet until early 2016.
Fellow former band member Harry Styles recently spoke about Payne’s passing, telling Zane Lowe that he pledged to live life to the fullest in Payne’s honor.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/niall-horan-liam-payne-death-friendship-bond-forever-1236609611/
