March 25, 2015, for many, is just another date on the calendar, but for One Direction fans, it is a tragic day: Zayn Malik announced, by surprise, through a post on social media, his departure from the band.
“My life with 1D has meant so much more than I could have ever imagined. But after five years, I feel like it’s the right time for me to leave the group,” she said at the time, leaving millions of fans shocked and heartbroken.
Following Zayn’s departure, One Direction continued as a quartet; however, a few weeks later, Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall announced that they would be taking a temporary break, with the hope of reuniting in the future, officially ending their activities as a group in 2016.
Read also Harry Styles dedicates award to One Direction
Eight years have passed since then and although each has followed their own solo path, Directioners still remember them every July 23, the date on which the band was formed.
It was 2010 and five young unknowns auditioned for “The X Factor” in the UK, looking for an opportunity in the industry.
Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson never imagined that their lives would change forever when Simon Cowell, a judge on the show, decided to unite them into one band. This is how One Direction was born, a boy band that would not only mark a generation, but would become an unprecedented global phenomenon.
Their debut on the “The X Factor” stage caught the attention of viewers, and although they did not win the competition, this was the beginning of their rise.
The band’s journey was fueled by the power of social media and the digital age. Their music and charm quickly went viral, aided by platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, which allowed fans to connect with them in a way never before possible.
In five years, they released five albums that dominated the charts in multiple countries. From “What Makes You Beautiful” to “Drag Me Down.” Their third album, “Midnight Memories,” was the best-selling album worldwide in 2013.
Concerts were also memorable events, the “Where We Are Tour” in 2014 was the most lucrative in the group’s history, grossing $290 million and attracting millions of fans around the world.
Throughout their career, they won nearly 200 awards, including seven Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards and seven American Music Awards. They never received a Grammy, but were the first group in history to have their first four albums reach number one on the charts.
In 2013, they were the best-selling artists in the world and a year later, Billboard named them “Artist of the Year.” Their commercial success was equally impressive, selling more than 70 million records worldwide and ranking them among the most successful boy bands of all time.
Read also Love and hate between the former members of One Direction, Liam Payne breaks the silence
