Zayn Malik’s solo tour took an emotional turn recently when he struggled to hold back tears while performing the One Direction hit “Night Changes,” a poignant tribute to his late bandmate, Liam Payne.
Just days after attending Liam Payne’s funeral, Zayn Malik kicked off his very first solo tour and honored his former bandmate at the end of the show.
The Stairway to the Sky tour was supposed to begin on October 23 in Washington D.C. with a string of American dates, but the former One Direction singer chose to postpone the North American leg after Liam’s October 16 death. The “Strip That Down” singer was just 31 years old when he died after falling off a balcony in Argentina.
“Given the heartbreaking loss experienced this week, I’ve made the decision to postpone the US leg of the Stairway to the Sky Tour,” Zayn wrote on Instagram. “The dates are being rescheduled for January and I’ll post them as soon as it’s all set in the next few days. Your tickets will remain valid for the new dates. Love you all and thank you for your understanding.”
Zayn was joined by fellow One Direction singers Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan at Liam’s funeral on November 20. It was the first time the men had all reunited since Zayn left the band in 2015 (One Direction then announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016 as the artists pursued solo careers).
Although Zayn seemingly lost touch with his bandmates over the years, he posted a touching tribute to Liam on Instagram one day after the dad of one’s death. “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me,” he wrote. “I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.”
He continued, “I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life. I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid [and] you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.”
Although Zayn noted that he and Liam “butted heads” a few times, he said he always “secretly respected” his friend for “[giving] no f–ks about telling people when they were wrong.” His statement continued, “When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison. I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next. I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.”
He concluded, “I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever. There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and at peace and you know how loved you are.”
Although Zayn began his career as a solo artist in 2016, he has never toured alone and has been open in the past about his struggles with anxiety and stage fright.
