Zayn Malik pays tribute to bandmate Liam Payne with first tour show days after funeral

Zayn Malik made a poignant instrumentality to the signifier contiguous for his solo tour, which helium antecedently postponed owed to the decease of person and bandmate Liam Payne.

In a loving gesture, helium ensured Payne was included arsenic helium paid tribute to him with a saccharine connection on-screen.

The Pillowtalk hitmaker attended Payne’s ceremonial conscionable 3 days agone aft the One Direction prima tragically died astatine the property of 31 connected October 16.

Zayn joined Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles for the devastating goodbye arsenic Payne’s loved ones held a backstage work successful Buckinghamshire.

Then tonight, the Bradford-born instrumentalist bravely sang to a packed assemblage with his Stairway To The Sky show, which marks the opening of his first-ever circuit arsenic a soloist since leaving 1D astir a decennary ago.

Zayn, who near the set successful March 2015, performed to thousands astatine the 02 Academy successful Leeds connected what was undoubtedly an affectional nighttime for each present.

Then, astatine the extremity of the gig aft Zayn’s last opus Stardust, a heartfelt announcement appeared connected the large surface alongside a reddish heart.

It read: ‘Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro’.

Taking to X aft the gig, fans expressed their emotion for Zayn and admiration for his spot successful getting connected stage, peculiarly fixed however vocal he’s been successful the past astir his anxiety, which has prevented him from touring until now.

‘Liam was watching you from up there, the full time. He was truthful arrogant of you, Zayn and helium loved you truthful so much’, wrote rauhlslegendary.

‘The information Zayn near the signifier earlier the tribute appeared connected the surface lone shows however MUCH it hurts and is hard for him to spell done it. And you inactive accidental they’re conscionable bandmates. Zayn, we’re arrogant of you. Stay strong. We emotion you’, posted dpwvsn.

‘I can’t adjacent statesman to enactment into words however overmuch respect I person for Zayn and however arrogant I americium of him close now. Seeing him backmost connected stage, smashing it > everything else’, wrote stronghabit28.

Payne was famously vocal with his enactment for his bandmates, whether it beryllium connected societal media oregon successful interviews aft embarking connected his ain solo endeavours.

Shortly earlier helium died successful a autumn from a third-floor balcony astatine his edifice successful Buenos Aries, Argentina, the Strip That Down hitmaker attended Niall’s performance successful South America.

And arsenic helium greeted fans extracurricular his edifice aft Zayn’s circuit was confirmed, helium told them: ‘Ain’t Zayn doing well, coming retired connected tour? I’m truthful arrogant of him!’

In October, Zayn issued a connection to corroborate his the US limb of his circuit had been enactment connected clasp owed to the heartbreak of Payne’s death.

‘Due to unforeseen circumstances (the) Zayn Stairway To The Sky Edinburgh amusement archetypal scheduled for November 20 has been rescheduled for December 8,’ an Instagram Story read.

A further day connected November 21 astatine the aforesaid O2 Academy Edinburgh venue has been moved to December 9, the station said.

‘All tickets for the archetypal amusement dates volition beryllium honoured connected the rescheduled dates,’ it added.

Zayn shared his ain tribute to Payne aft quality of his decease broke, penning that helium ‘never got to thank’ the vocalist for supporting him done immoderate of the ‘most difficult’ times successful his life.

He besides penned: ‘I mislaid a member erstwhile you near america and can’t explicate to you what I’d springiness to conscionable springiness you a hug 1 past clip and accidental goodbye to you decently and archer you that I loved and respected you dearly.

‘I volition cherish each the memories I person with you successful my bosom forever.

‘There is nary words that warrant oregon explicate however I consciousness close present different than beyond devastated.

‘I anticipation that wherever you are close present you are bully and are astatine bid and you cognize however loved you are. Love you bro.’

An probe has been launched into Payne’s decease by prosecutors, and 3 radical person been charged successful transportation with the incident.

Fans person been successful mourning since the tragedy, flocking to vigils astir the satellite successful their thousands to sing songs and laic flowers and artwork.

Payne, who was enactment into One Direction connected The X Factor successful 2010, is survived by parents Geoff and Karen, positive older sisters Nicola and Ruth.

At the clip of his death, helium was dating Kate Cassidy, 25, and besides leaves down seven-year-old lad Bear from his two-year narration with popular prima Cheryl.

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