Liam Payne spoke candidly about how mega stressful being in One Direction had been during an appearance on Jessie Wares podcast Table Manners. Payne recently released the solo single Stack It Up.
During his hour-long appearance on the podcast, which Ware co-hosts with her mother, Payne gave intimate details about the pains and triumphs of his career and personal life.
The singer noted that One Directions schedule had been a complete mess, with tours sold out before they had even written and recorded the albums. Theres no stop button, he recalled. Youve got no control over your life. Thats why I lost complete control of everything.
During his time in the group, Payne saw himself settling into bad habits he couldnt immediately break once he was on his own, like the imbalance of partying with a heavy workload. He looked at the history of former teen idols, fearing that same fate: Youre either going to end up a crazy child star who dies at whatever age, or youre going to live life and actually get on with it.
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Over the last two years, he has done retreats and taken the time to reclaim some of his lost youth, learning how to be a person while raising his own son Bear. Since the hiatus was announced, he has not stayed in touch with his bandmates, likening them to former coworkers he didnt have much in common with.
Later in the interview, he recalls how sudden the fame of the band was. He knew that they had become well-known in the UK, but once they traveled to places like Australia soon after the groups stint on The X-Factor wrapped, they saw how big everything had really become.
During that early time, Payne learned to become a recluse. The band had been overworked and he lacked much of a personal life. I remember getting to therapy and the guy was like What do you like to do? I didnt know, he said.
For Payne, One Direction parting ways in 2016 was really scary at first but he is happy that it ended. I needed to stop. It wouldve killed me, he said.
Following the release of Paynes interview, former Interpol member Carlos Dengler weighed in on his experience in the rock band. I too was in a boy band and I too wouldve died had I stayed, the bassist said. Im with you 100% my man
I too was in a "boy band" and I too would've died had I stayed. I'm with you 100% my man: https://t.co/JbBctmoqfx
Carlos Dengler (@denglercarlos) October 16, 2019