How One Direction stars shone brightly as soloists

Having wowed the world as a band,  Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik found themselves on top of the album charts as soloists. 

As a solo artist, One Direction singer Liam Payne released solo album LP1 in 2019 Photo: Getty

This article was first published in 2017

For only the second time in history three solo members of a chart-topping band have reached the summit of the US album charts.

One of those groups featured young men with much-imitated haircuts who generated widespread mass hysteria among their young fans and conquered America by becoming the first British act to enter the Billboard charts at No 1 with their debut album.

The other was the Beatles.

For all the success that One Direction has enjoyed since forming and finishing third on The X Factor in 2010, the Fab Four’s enduring commercial clout and unmatched artistic influence outstrip the younger band’s achievements in most people’s eyes, at least for now.

However, after Niall Horan’s debut solo album Flicker leapt to the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart, One Direction looks well-placed to carve out a unique niche in pop history as the first band to have four members notch up solo No 1 albums across the Atlantic.

Horan’s effort follows No 1 albums by Harry Styles, whose self-titled debut reached the top earlier this year, and Zayn Malik with Mind of Mine last year.

Two other members of the group have yet to release individual albums. Liam Payne’s debut single, Strip That Down, co-written with Ed Sheeran, is the biggest selling single by a former member of One Direction to date, selling more than five million copies worldwide. Louis Tomlinson’s two singles so far have sold slightly less but both still made the British top 10.

Both men are due to release albums. If one of them reaches the US No 1 slot then, barring an unlikely renaissance by Ringo Starr, they will claim the record.

Starr’s best attempt was a No 2 hit with his self-titled debut album in 1973.

Paul McCartney was the first to establish himself, claiming a chart-topping album with McCartney in 1970. He went on to rack up five more, including work with his band Wings.

John Lennon had three No 1 albums in the US: Imagine in 1971, Walls and Bridges in 1974 and Double Fantasy, with Yoko Ono in 1980.

George Harrison hit No 1 with All Things Must Pass in 1971 and Living in the Material World two years later.

One Direction, a four-piece after Malik’s departure, has been on hiatus since the beginning of last year.

The Times