Looking back on One Direction superstar Liam Payne’s time in Adelaide
As the world mourns One Direction superstar Liam Payne, we remember his time in Adelaide, including when fans confronted dangerous snakes to get a glimpse of their idol.
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The news of British signer Liam Payne’s death has sent shockwaves around the world, including in Adelaide where the former One Direction member toured many times throughout his career.
While the world mourns the superstar’s death, we revisit his time in Adelaide.
The 31-year-old visited Adelaide twice during his time with One Direction in 2013 and 2015 after the group’s first Australian tour in 2012 where they played three shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
A year later, they kicked off the Australian leg of their Take Me Home tour with three sold-out shows at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre supported by Australia’s own 5 Seconds of Summer.
With a popularity rivalling Beatlemania, the group’s visit was drama-filled from the moment they arrived with hundreds of devoted Directioners left in tears after Payne, along with bandmates Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson, secretly snuck out of Adelaide Airport.
Payne later issued an apology to their heartbroken fans who had spent hours waiting, tweeting: “Sorry we couldn’t stop in the airport they said it wasn’t safe ???? great to be in oz tho (sic).”
Undeterred fans later braved a dangerous snake habitat, camping outside the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort where the band was staying to catch a glimpse of their idols, ignoring signs outside warning of poisonous snakes and invading the “snake habitats” around the perimeter.
Taking to Twitter once again, Payne urged fans to leave the fields out of fear for their safety.
“Girls behind the hotel please get out the fields there’s a huge sign saying snake habitat it’s just not worth it someone’s gunna get hurt,” he posted.
However this did little to deter the group with Payne following up on his previous warning shortly after: “Are u not reading what I’m saying it's a SNAKE HABITAT TURN AROUND.”
They returned again in 2015 for their On The Road Tour, playing shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, this time playing at AAMI stadium to over 20,000 fans.
Unbeknown to Aussie fans, this would be the last time the band would perform as a fivesome Down Under, with Malik exiting the group shortly afterwards.
After releasing a final studio album together without Malik, each member went on to forge a solo a career with Payne releasing his debut album LP1 in 2019.
Just last week, it was reported the release of his much-anticipated second studio album was shelved.
Payne has been open about his mental health struggles throughout his career, revealing in 2023 that he had spent 100 days in a US wellness clinic after hitting rock bottom.
In a video posted to his official YouTube account shared in July last year, he announced that he was six months sober.
His sudden death comes six years after his last visit to Australia in 2018 when he performed at The Everest in Sydney.
Payne leaves behind 7-year-old son Bear Grey, who he shares with singer Cheryl Cole, and model girlfriend Kate Cassidy.
Echoing words
Echoing the words and emotions of every One Direction fan across South Australia on early Thursday morning, Rebekah Soda was “absolutely devastated when she heard the news of Liam Pyne’s death.
The 27-year-old from St Agnes said noticed that she had five missed calls from her mother Kylie, and sister, Aime, who wanted to break the devastating news, which she quickly confirmed through dozens of social media posts from credible sources.
“I thought, no, surely not,” she said. “I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’ve been crying”
“I told my sister that we’re probably going to have to take a day off work when they have his funeral.”
In 2013, Ms Soda featured on the front page of The Advertiser, as Adelaide’s biggest One Direction fan, who used to spend every cent of her $130 weekly paycheck on their merchandise including cardboard cutouts, fake fingers and an electric toothbrush.
“I’ve been a One Direction fan since I was a teen. I lived and breathed those boys,” she said.
“I was front row when they came to Adelaide the first time, I’ve got videos and photos.
“In the sound check, I got to meet them and talk to them, which was unreal.”
The ‘Directioner’ – the former UK boy band’s fan club name – said she’s kept some of their memorabilia such as their dolls and CD’s.
Ms Soda said her favourite thing about Liam was his leadership within the group.
“I loved how he was the leader of the group. He was cute and funny.
“I’m going to miss him, It’s just a shame it ended like this”
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Originally published as Looking back on One Direction superstar Liam Payne’s time in Adelaide
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