Liam Payne was always the slightly mischievous one who used to play pranks – but he also readily took on key role
From the moment they captured our hearts on The X Factor, Fabulous readers couldn’t get enough of One Direction.
In all, the band appeared on our cover four times between 2011 and 2015.
We saw the boys change immeasurably, from the fresh-faced stars of our Teen Issue to jaded and exhausted 20-somethings who, despite still being incredibly good-natured, were desperate for time out of the spotlight.
We also witnessed their personalities develop as they grew into their friendships and roles in the band.
Liam was always the slightly mischievous one who loved to play pranks, but who also readily took on the role of being responsible for the others.
When we shot them in 2012, they had just returned from a successful tour of the States, becoming the first UK boy band to truly crack America, going to No.1 in the Billboard Chart and selling out New York’s Madison Square Gardens in minutes.
READ MORE ON ONE DIRECTION
'We blagged our way into so many things'
Liam and Louis were constantly up to mischief that day.
They drove their minder Paul Higgins mad, grabbing a couple of Boris bikes and disappearing down a towpath near our north London studio.
By the time we shot our next cover with them in America in 2013, they were at the height of their fame and we got a small taste of what it was like to be them
At another shoot the day before, the pair had somehow ended up on the roof of the studio in a bid to hide from their team who just rolled their eyes, as they were used to their hijinks.
Liam had already confided their plans that day: “What we’ll do is we’ll take pictures of ourselves and send them to Paul so he doesn’t know where we are and he’ll have to guess.
When we went to the Olympics the other day, we snuck out and because we had passes, we could get everywhere and we blagged our way into so many things.
We were absolutely everywhere and we sent Paul all these pictures.”
The results of that shoot were five different covers that saw 1D fans search the length and breadth of the country to get an issue featuring their favourite band member (or all five if they were lucky).
By the time we shot our next cover with them in America in 2013, they were at the height of their fame and we got a small taste of what it was like to be them.
Thousands of fans turned up at hotels around the Texan city of Houston, hanging around lobbies and keeping watch like hawks to find where the boys were staying.
A ring of steel had to be thrown around our cover shoot and security guards were hired to make sure fans didn’t discover the top-secret location.
We should have known that when it came to direction, resistance was futile.
Despite the shoot taking place in the middle of an off-the-beaten-track location, the fans found us and as word spread, the crowds (and the screams) grew.
This didn’t faze the boys in the slightest. They were used to always attracting a huge amount of attention.
Their team had concerns, though. A few of the boys were smokers and, with a clean-cut image to protect, no one wanted the fans or paparazzi to catch them with a cigarette.
But in the end, that’s exactly what happened. Before our shoot was over, Twitter (as it was then known) was awash with pictures of the boys puffing away, to the exasperation of the 1D team.
Liam was his usual charming, friendly, generous self that day, but there was a new kind of edge to him.
The Liam of a couple of years before would not have wanted the fans to spot him or any of the other boys smoking, and he’d have gone to great lengths to make sure that didn’t happen.
But newly single, having split from girlfriend Danielle Peazer, he was more nonchalant about everything and keen to ditch his image as the responsible one.
“Let’s just say Captain Sensible isn’t so sensible any more,” he said in our interview, confiding that he’d given up being teetotal and was enjoying being “more rebellious”.
Despite having to shoot in the scorching Texan sun ahead of their gig at the 18,000-capacity Toyota Center that night, all five were good-humoured and easy-going.
Liam joked that they weren’t any good at being rock stars because they were all too undemanding. “We’re the worst divas in the world!” he said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Our final cover was in November 2015, shortly before the band broke up, when they discussed how tough things had been since Zayn left and Liam told us: “We need a break, but it’s not over.”
How tragic his words on that final cover image seem now.
Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED fans, former co-workers, loved ones and friends flooded social media with sad tributes to Liam Payne after news of his death emerged.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne was among the first from One Direction's camp to share her reaction, posting a photo of Liam and writing 'Just a boy...' alongside a broken heart emoji.
Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden shared an image of the pair together with the words: "Such an awful tragedy.
"Sending love to his family and all those who loved him.";
X Factor star Olly Murs told fans he was "devastated" and ";lost for words".
He wrote on social media: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x".
Liam Gallagher said he was "very sad" and told his followers on X: "Life is precious Kids, you only get to do it once, go easy."
Former X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary has also expressed his shock and spoke on This Morning.
He said: “I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball reacted to the "devastating news" on her show and told fans she hugged her own son Woody tight this morning.
JLS band member Marvin Humes reflected on his memories with the singer, sharing: "I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor..he was 14 years old..
"We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother..that year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born..the rest is history..
"Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news..Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro..just can’t believe that things have ended this way..it’s shocking..my thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother..RIP."
Niall Horan's brother Greg shared an emotional tribute to Liam, praising him as a "top young man".
He added: "You will be forever missed. Liam, words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys.
"My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.
"10th October we met and we started out that evening as 5 families into one big one 1D family thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE x x x"
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: "RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…"
American singer, Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: "I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
"He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone...
"I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry..."
Irish singer duo Jedward also took to social media, saying: "RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family."
In another tweet, they added: "Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne."
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: "So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend."
ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford shared a news video about Liam's tragic death on Instagram, adding: "Can't believe this! RIP Liam."
Meanwhile Love Island star Molly Marsh penned: "I'm so taken aback, rest in peace."
James Cordon also paid his own tribute, describing the star as a "loving and kind soul".
The Gavin and Stacey actor wrote on Instagram: "Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heart-breaking.
"I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him. My thoughts are with his family today x."
Payne previously appeared on Cordon's The Late Late Show in America.
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall - who won X Factor with her bandmates one year after One Direction took part - described him as "the first friend I made in this industry".
She said: "We fell out of touch as the years went by, but back in 2008 he was the first friend I made in this industry.
"Both of us so young, so ambitious, both hoping we'd 'make it'. I hope you are at peace now".
Camila Cabello described his death as a "tragedy" and said he "made an impression" on her when she was a young girl.