One Direction will be going their separate ways for a year in March to focus on solo projects, according to The Sun.
Whether you’re a die hard Directioner or not, it’s certainly the end of an era.
Here’s their story from the beginning…
1. The band were formed during the 2010 series of The X Factor. The original members of the band – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson – all auditioned as solo artists on 2010 series of The X Factor.
2. They didn’t make it to the boys’ category of judges’ houses but were offered the chance to perform as a group, and made it through as a group to the judges’ houses stage of the competition. And really impressed Simon Cowell with their rendition of Torn.
3. Reports say it was Styles who came up with the band’s name, One Direction.
4. They finished third in the seventh series of the UK X Factor, and despite not winning, Cowell signed them to his record label, Syco Records.
5. In 2011 they released their debut single, What Makes You Beautiful, and later released their first album, Up All Night, in the UK and Ireland. It was released globally in 2012.
6. Their second album, Take Me Home, was released in November 2012, and the lead single from the album, Live While We’re Young, went on to top charts around the world.
7. In 2013 director Morgan Spurlock headed up a documentary film about the band. The movie went on to top global box offices.
8. In March this year, the band announced that Zayn Malik would officially be leaving to pursue a solo career.
Zayn made this official statement on the band’s Facebook page.
And Directioners mourned.
9. As a foursome, the band recently won eight gongs at the Teen Choice Awards. The boy band were named Choice male music group, Choice summer music group and Choice selfie takers, while heartthrobs Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson beat former bandmate Zayn Malik to be named Choice male hotties.
10. Following his departure, Zayne went on to sign a recording deal with RCA Records and announced the news on Twitter.
11. In July, reports speculated that Louis was expecting a child with Los-Angeles based stylist Briana Jungwirth, although he has yet to comment himself. However, Liam went on to say during an interview with Magic Radio that he was”shocked” to hear that Louis was becoming a father.
12. The foursome surprised fans a few weeks ago by releasing their new single, Drag Me Down, unexpectedly on iTunes and Spotify.
13. The song rocketed to the top of iTunes in 86 countries.
14. The band are currently touring the US as part of the On The Road Again tour. They’re due to return to the UK to continue their tour at the end of next month.
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