42 MUSICIANS
42 MUSICIANS
RISE TO STARDORM
In 2010, Niall Horan , Zayn Malik , Liam Payne , Har- ry Styles , and Louis Tomlinson auditioned as solo candidates for the seventh series of the British tele- vised singing competition The X Factor . They failed to progress to the “ Boys ” category at “ judges ’ houses ”, and , after a suggestion by Nicole Scherzinger , a guest judge , they were put together to form a five-piece boy band at Wembley Arena , in London , England , in July 2010 , during the “ bootcamp ” stage of the competition , thus qualifying for the “ Groups ” category .
Subsequently , the group got together for two weeks to get to know each other and to practise . Styles came up with the name One Direction . For their qualifying song at “ judges ’ houses ”, and their first song as a group , One Direction sang an acoustic version of “ Torn ”. Simon Cowell later comment- ed that the performance convinced him that the group “ were confident , fun , like a gang of friends , and kind of fearless as well .” Within the first four weeks of the live shows , they were Cowell’ s last act in the competition . The group quickly gained popularity in the UK . One Direction finished in third place and immediately