17 photos of One Direction in Liverpool 12 years ago as tributes paid to Liam Payne

Many will remember their performance in 2012

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Singer Liam Payne, 31, has died aged 31 after reportedly falling at a hotel in Buenos Aires, local officials said. One fifth of One Direction, Liam first found fame after appearing on The X Factor in 2008 at the age of 14.

Two years later in 2010, the successful boyband were formed on the show, with the original line-up of One Direction consisting of Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles. The band went on achieve global success with five albums and four world tours, before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016.

Payne released his debut solo album LP1 in December 2019 which included the singles Polaroid and Familiar. Through the years, the One Direction fanbase, known as Directioners, have remained loyal followers of the solo careers of all five members.

One Direction star Liam Payne dead aged 31

Liam Payne tributes updates as One Direction star dies aged 31

Tributes continue to be paid across the globe to the singer who died yesterday, October 16. In tribute to the late Liam Payne, the ECHO have rediscovered these photographs of the boyband in the early stages of their career, performing at the Liverpool Echo Arena in 2012, now known as the M&S Bank Arena.

The concert was announced in September 2011, following the band's book signing in Liverpool city centre, which saw hundreds of screaming fans queue to catch a glimpse of One Direction. At the time, the ECHO reported: "Chart-topping boyband One Direction is set to play Liverpool’s Echo Arena on their upcoming tour.

"After months of fevered anticipation and levels of hysteria not witnessed for decades, One Direction has announce a string of live dates across the UK and Ireland this December and January. As part of their 21-date tour, the band will be coming to Liverpool on January 15, 2012.

"The boys are no strangers to performing to huge crowds after wowing fans on The X Factor Live Tour earlier this year. Their first headline tour will see the band performing songs from their debut album, released this November, alongside some of their favourite covers and a few surprises .

"Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful shot to number one on iTunes within 15 minutes of being released and achieved the biggest week one sales of 2011, selling 153,965 copies. Their second book, Dare to Dream, released this week, also instantly rocketed to number one."

Here you can see Liam, Harry, Niall, Zayn and Louis performing on stage 12 years ago in Liverpool. The photos are courtesy of Tony Woolliscroft/WireImage and many One Direction fans from across Merseyside will be remembering this day today in tribute.