When One Direction announced a hiatus, most thought that it would be the end of the X-Factor-generated boy band. After a tumultuous year of tours and the loss of a band member, many think the now-quartet are preparing to end their careers as One Direction. Though there are speculations about One Direction’s fate, the band has worked hard to assure the world that this is just a break. With a new album set to release in November, many fans are asking, “Is this the last we’ll hear from One Direction?”
Since their third-place finish on the 2010 season of "The X Factor UK," the group has experienced worldwide success. Beginning with their first bubblegum-pop single “What Makes You Beautiful,” the group clumsily danced their way into the hearts of millions of teenage girls across the globe. Their first two albums "Up All Night" and "Take Me Home" rang to the familiar tune of a standard pop style. However, with their third and fourth albums, "Midnight Memories" and "Four," the quintet transitioned to a more rock-type sound, gaining inspiration from Queen and The Rolling Stones. Their transition into arena rock marked a growth in maturity for the group as they all entered their twenties.
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Starting in 2011, the groups "Up All Night" tour catered to small venues in the UK before gaining speed in both Oceania and the US. After their success in the UK, the band turned their sights toward the US and opened up for Big Time Rush, a group developed by Nickelodeon. For their second and third solo tours, "Take Me Home" and "Where We Are," the group transitioned to playing amphitheatres, arenas, and stadiums in the UK, US, and Australia. Through these tours, fans have been able to get a close look at the bonds that hold One Direction together. Whether the members changed lyrics to their songs or played practical jokes, the comfort level of the band was eminent. From stage high jinks to on-stage costume changes, the group seemed to enjoy one another’s company and the atmosphere of their concerts. Since the time of arenas, One Direction has managed to capture the attention of devout fans and now entertained thousands at a time in some of the world’s largest stadiums.
The year began smoothly. With 1D finishing their Where We Are Tour in October of last year, the band started their worldwide On the Road Again (or “OTRA”) stadium tour in February 2015. As the group rounded out their 13-show Asian leg of the tour, member Zayn Malik took a temporary hiatus, on March 19, due to stress. In a statement released from the group’s spokesperson, Malik’s hiatus seemed to be only temporary. “Zayn has been signed off with stress and is flying back to the UK to recuperate. The band wish(es) him well and will continue with their performances in Manila and Jakarta."However, six days later, on March 25, Malik announced his departure from the group, saying, “I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.” Taken by surprise, fans from around the world note this as the moment One Direction began to fall apart.
As many fans prepared for the worst, existing members of One Direction Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne assured fans that business would continue as usual. In their first interview post-Malik, members of the group explained the no-hard-feelings aspect of his departure. Though they recognized Malik’s changing attitude, they all agreed that they were still into it. “The four of us love every part of it,” Horan explained. “Things have been great on the tour and the fans have been great to us, they deserve it, they have been fantastic to us… we are in the studio at the minute and we are looking forward to bringing out a new record and going on more tours and we are really enjoying it.” While Horan’s seemed to abate some of the rumors within the fan-base, some view it as too good to be true.
Though hopeful, One Direction fans were given more unexpected news during the summer. As rumors of the band’s personal life are not uncommon, fans were blindsided by reports that 23-year-old member Louis Tomlinson was to be a dad. Though sources had confirmed over the summer that it was true, subsequent reports suggest that paternal tests will be taken after the child’s birth. Though papers continue to publish details about the baby-Tomlinson-to-be, Louis himself has not made any comment on the matter.
Shortly after the announcement, the band announced a hiatus that would begin in March 2016, just four months after the release of their fifth studio album Made in the A.M. As rumors of a split spread through social media, Tomlinson and Horan took to twitter to explain that they were not breaking up, but taking a “well-deserved break sometime next year.”
After nearly five years of touring and recording, One Direction’s hiatus seems to be coming at a great time for the band. Though rumors circulate about individual projects, One Direction fans are left to hold out hope for a return of the world’s largest boy band following this break. Since the announcement of the break, concert-goers have expressed a change in attitude among the band. Between pranks and jokes, the band members seem to be relaxing, teasing fans with new singles from their upcoming album. Though their tour has until the end of the month before concluding, One Direction has planned promotions for Made in the A.M. by scheduling appearances for the Triple Ho Show in Texas and two separate Jingle Ball events in California.
With the “Beatle Mania”-compared hysteria that is associated with One Direction’s fan base, it is unknown whether or not the fans will stick around through the group’s hiatus. As One Direction grows older, so do their fans. With many of their fan base already in college, many have already fallen out of the One Direction phase. If anything can be said about the fan base, it is that their loyalty is strong and the attachment that exists between the band and fans will be hard to break. With less than a month until their fifth album’s release, it seems as though the fans will have something to hold onto while waiting for the members of One Direction to return to the stage.
