'Rest in peace brother': Zayn Malik's touching tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne in Wolverhampton show
Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik paid a touching tribute to his former bandmate Liam Payne in his first Wolverhampton show since the singer's death.
"We are here in Liam's hometown. Liam, this is for you brother, I hope you can see this." Those were Zayn's words as he took to the stage at Wolverhampton's The Halls only a month after the death of his former bandmate.
Thousands of fans lined the streets outside the venue wearing a mix of Zayn and One Direction merchandise after getting tickets to the near-sell-out show.
The show proved to be one of Zayn's most emotionally charged, with teary-eyed fans noting the gig's importance.
Talking before the event, Jayne Moore, 31, from Wolverhampton, said: "It's great that he is here. I've wanted to see him for years.
"It's going to be really emotional I think. Playing in Wolverhampton this soon after Liam's death - it's going to be emotional, but fitting."
The line to get in stretched around the Wolverhampton Council building.
Sally Pollock, 18, from Bilston, said: "I can't believe how long the line is to get in, it's amazing really.
"I heard that he was doing a tribute to Liam, which is really nice. I know that I'm going to cry."
Liam Payne sadly died after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina last month.
Paying tribute to Liam, Zayn said: "I have been doing this at all of the shows on this tour. Liam Payne, rest in peace brother.
"We are here in Liam's hometown. Liam, this is for you brother, I hope you can see this."
The event ended with a message appearing on a huge screen reading "Liam Payne, 1993 - 2024. Love you bro" followed by a heart icon.
