Harry Styles honored Liam Payne by performing a new song at Madison Square Garden two years after his One Direction bandmate’s death.
Addressing the audience while on stage during the Friday, October 16, leg of his Together, Together Tour, Styles, 32, shared that he had written the song about Payne.
“I feel incredibly lucky to get to play these shows here in New York, and this building means a lot to me as I’ve said,” Styles told the crowd before debuting the track called “What Is Enough.”
He continued, “I feel incredibly proud when I get to look up there and see my name up there. There are so many people in my life, friends and people that I’ve worked with, that I wouldn’t have been able to do this without. And two years ago today, I lost one of those friends.”
Styles encouraged his fans to look after one another and acknowledged that some people in the audience have likely suffered adversities similar to the grief he experienced when losing Payne.
He continued, “So many people who have touched my life in such special ways and who I wouldn’t be here without. I’m gonna play you a song I wrote for my friend about two years ago, if that’s all right.”
Payne died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. He was 31 years old.
Styles and his remaining former One Direction bandmates, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, released a joint statement shortly after Payne’s death.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say,” they shared in October 2024. “But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Styles also shared a solo post in tribute to Payne the same month, posting a photo of the “Strip That Down” singer performing in front of a large crowd via his Instagram.
“I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing,” Styles wrote. “His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.”
He continued, “Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.”
The “Watermelon Sugar” singer further opened up about the loss while speaking to Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview released in March this year.
“It’s difficult to lose any friend, but it’s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways,” Styles said. “It’s like, I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.”
