The question deserves to be asked. Who was the real frontman of One Direction? Many may ask the question and everyone has their say, especially to defend their favorite singer. So even though he regularly stressed that he could be, Liam Payne was never officially the frontman of One Direction. And this even if his role within the group could sometimes suggest the opposite.
Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne… Who was the leader of One Direction?
The group, formed in 2010 on the set of the British version of the show The X Factorconsisted of five members: Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne. From the start, One Direction was notable for the absence of a true leader. This dynamic allowed fans to become attached to each member in a unique way.
However, Liam was often seen as the most organized member and the one who spoke up most often in interviews, especially early in their career. Having tried The X Factor solo in 2008 before joining the group in 2010, he already had some stage experience, which gave him a little more confidence to assert himself on practical aspects. He was often the one to speak on behalf of the group and take initiative during live performances, notably often being responsible for kicking off songs.
Despite these natural leadership qualities, it is important to emphasize that One Direction has always presented themselves as a collective. Each member had their own style and strengths, and their popularity was based on this complementarity.
Liam Payne proclaims himself leader of One Direction, creating controversy
Liam has, however, expressed on several occasions, notably after the band’s hiatus in 2016, that he felt some pressure to take the lead at certain times, especially during live performances. During his participation in the podcast Implausivethe singer also made several shocking statements.
In addition to the negative comments he made towards his former comrade Zayn Malik, Liam Payne notably mentioned being the most successful former member of the group, declaring in particular that his single, Strip That Down, released in 2017 had “exceeded the sales of all members of the group” and that One Direction was built around him. Affirming at the same time that Simon Cowell, former manager of 1D, had told him that he was the leader of the group.
Several music personalities then spoke, including Lizzo, who is known to be close to singer Harry Styles. “I don’t know who lied to that poor boy, but it wasn’t the leader” she notably published on social networks.
At the heart of the controversy, images from the show during the creation of the group were republished, lifting the veil on the mystery. We see the different judges from season 7 discussing the profiles of the singers who can join the group. And at no time is there any mention of a place as leader for Liam Payne.
One Direction is, and will ultimately forever remain, a group in which each member had the opportunity to fully express themselves and contribute to the group’s phenomenal success, without distinction.
