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