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Louis Tomlinson says Liam Payne was 'most vital part of One Direction' in heartfelt tribute

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Josiah Eleazar Antonio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17292066655411729206663163.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Photo from Liam Payne&#x27;s Instagram account.</div>Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson was the first bandmate who paid tribute to Liam Payne following his death.Payne, 31, fell from the balcony of his Buenos Aires hotel room.&quot;I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul,&quot; Tomlinson said in a lengthy Instagram post.<div> </div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBPRBySzeJW/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=596&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3310147.800000012%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div> </div><div>Tomlinson noted that he was 18 and Payne was 16 when they first met.</div>&quot;I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for,&quot; the singer said. &quot;Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.  &quot;And for the record, Liam was in my opinion 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. Thank you for shaping us Liam,&quot; he said. <div style="box-sizing:border-box;margin:0px 0px 9px;line-height:21px;overflow-wrap:break-word;color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/10/16/one-direction-s-liam-payne-falls-to-death-at-argentina-hotel-601" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(93, 155, 192);text-decoration:none">One Direction&#x27;s Liam Payne falls to death at Argentina hotel</a></div>He also shared how he wanted to share the stage with Payne again but it would not be possible anymore. &quot;I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life,&quot; the singer said.  &quot;I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be,&quot; he added. Tomlinson, who is also a father, promised to be there for Payne&#x27;s son. &quot;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,&quot; he said. He concluded his message with a wish saying, &quot;I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.&quot; &quot;Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well,&quot; he added.  Payne first joined the singing competition &quot;X Factor UK&quot; as a solo act in 2008, but ended his journey in the judges&#x27; house round. He joined again in 2010 as a solo act, but was offered to be in a group with Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, and Niall Horan as One Direction.  The widely successful group released five albums, the last one without Malik after his departure from One Direction in 2015.  Payne later pursued a solo career and was known for the track &quot;Strip That Down.&quot; He had an album and two extended plays. His last single &quot;Teardrops&quot; came out in March 2024.

Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson was the first bandmate who paid tribute to Liam Payne following his death.

Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson was the first bandmate who paid tribute to Liam Payne following his death.