One Direction may be on an extended hiatus, but Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik have continued to make music — and headlines — over the years.
After forming and finishing in third place on the U.K.’s version of The X Factor in 2010, One Direction released four successful studio albums — Up All Night, Take Me Home, Midnight Memories, and Four. Following five years as a group, however, Malik was the first to leave the band, announcing his departure in March 2015.
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“My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band,” he said in a statement at the time. “I’d like to apologize to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life Louis, Liam, Harry, and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.”
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Horan, Payne, Styles, and Tomlinson went on to release a fifth album, Made in the A.M., sans Malik. Shortly after the record dropped, however, the remaining band members announced they were taking an extended hiatus. Less than a year later, Us Weekly broke the news in that the foursome decided “not to renew their recording contract,” ultimately calling it quits as a band.
“The 1D thing just ran its course,” an insider dished to Us in January 2016. “They’ll remain friends, but they are exhausted and want solo careers.
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