Zayn Malik pays tribute Liam Payne as he returns to stage leaving heartbroken fans in tears

Zayn Malik, 31, opened his solo circuit successful Leeds connected Saturday nighttime and paid a moving tribute to his erstwhile One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, days aft attending his funeral

Zayn Malik has paid tribute to his erstwhile One Direction bandmate Liam Payne connected the opening nighttime of his new tour.

The 31-year-old singer kicked disconnected his solo circuit Stairway To The Sky astatine the O2 Academy successful Leeds past night, aft postponing immoderate performance dates successful the aftermath of Liam's death. As helium opened the circuit days aft Liam's funeral, the "Pillowtalk" hitmaker near fans affectional arsenic helium displayed an affectional connection for his erstwhile bandmate.

The tribute, connected a ample bluish screen, read: "Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro." The message, followed by a bosom emoji, was shared wide connected social media aft leaving the assemblage successful tears.

Zayn's first-ever solo circuit was acceptable to statesman successful San Francisco connected October 23, but aft Liam died, helium decided to postpone those dates to January. He besides had scheduled a amusement successful Edinburgh connected the aforesaid time arsenic Liam's funeral, but helium moved it to December 8.

The vocalist besides informed his fans that different amusement antecedently scheduled for November 21 has been moved to December 9. Liam and Zayn changeable to unimaginable fame unneurotic successful 2010 erstwhile they formed One Direction connected the X Factor on with Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

Paying tribute to the dad-of-one pursuing his tragic death, Zayn admitted helium "never got to thank" the precocious prima for supporting him done immoderate of the "most difficult" successful his life. Taking to Instagram, helium wrote: "Liam, I person recovered myself talking retired large to you, hoping you tin perceive me, I can't assistance but deliberation selfishly that determination was truthful galore much conversations for america to person successful our lives. I ne'er got to convey you for supporting maine done immoderate of the astir hard times successful my life.

"When I was missing location arsenic a 17 yr aged kid you would ever beryllium determination with a affirmative outlook and reassuring grin and fto maine cognize you were my person and that I was loved. Even though you were younger than maine you were ever much sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave nary f***s astir telling radical erstwhile they were wrong.

"Even though we butted heads due to the fact that of this a fewer times, I ever secretly respected you for it. I was ever blessed to know, nary substance what happened connected signifier we could ever trust connected you to cognize which mode to steer the vessel next. I mislaid a member erstwhile you near america and can't explicate to you what l'd springiness to conscionable springiness you a hug 1 past clip and accidental goodbye."

Zayn, who near One Direction successful 2015, attended Liam's ceremonial this week alongside each his erstwhile bandmates. The 4 of them arrived wearing achromatic suits, solemnly taking successful the floral displays enactment connected for Liam, whose decease connected October 16 near the full world shocked. They attended the ceremonial alongside Liam's loved ones, including friends, household and personage pals. The streets were lined with fans, who turned retired clutching photographs and flowers successful honour of the precocious singer.

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