Liam Payne
👤 PersonPodcast Appearances
How did you cope with all that fame from such a young age?
How did you cope with all that fame from such a young age?
Honestly, I don't think you do. I think it's a little bit of a crash course and that's why we have so many accidents with people today. To the outside world, it seems that I've got everything I need. But, you know, in a lot of circumstances, there's so many different parts that are missing and uncertainty is a big thing in my life because I don't know how long this is going to last for.
Honestly, I don't think you do. I think it's a little bit of a crash course and that's why we have so many accidents with people today. To the outside world, it seems that I've got everything I need. But, you know, in a lot of circumstances, there's so many different parts that are missing and uncertainty is a big thing in my life because I don't know how long this is going to last for.
Someone told me something about fame. You leave fame the age you entered it. So for me that was 14, right? So I'm screwed. Like I'm the 14 year old forever child. You don't grow in other aspects of your life because you have other people do crap for you.
Someone told me something about fame. You leave fame the age you entered it. So for me that was 14, right? So I'm screwed. Like I'm the 14 year old forever child. You don't grow in other aspects of your life because you have other people do crap for you.
The main thing about our fans is that they massively made our band. I mean, we like social media and that these days.
The main thing about our fans is that they massively made our band. I mean, we like social media and that these days.
My life's been so controlled to a point, day sheets, security guards, you know, anything. And it's all everybody else is dictating puppet master crap over the top of your life. When we were 17, I thought the security guard was like in charge of me. Like I was like, oh, can we leave the room? No. Okay, then not to worry. I'll just stay here.
My life's been so controlled to a point, day sheets, security guards, you know, anything. And it's all everybody else is dictating puppet master crap over the top of your life. When we were 17, I thought the security guard was like in charge of me. Like I was like, oh, can we leave the room? No. Okay, then not to worry. I'll just stay here.
And we're One Direction. I went on X Factor when I was 14. And from that moment on, I knew I wanted to do this as a career. So I kind of got myself ready for it.
And we're One Direction. I went on X Factor when I was 14. And from that moment on, I knew I wanted to do this as a career. So I kind of got myself ready for it.
So it was like nothing in my life was about serving myself, which then that just put me in a bad place and finding enjoyment from other stuff that I don't need. Alcohol was just really, it was getting earlier and earlier. Easier and easier to go to.
So it was like nothing in my life was about serving myself, which then that just put me in a bad place and finding enjoyment from other stuff that I don't need. Alcohol was just really, it was getting earlier and earlier. Easier and easier to go to.
I think for me, super perfection is about a lot of stuff. I don't give myself a lot of breaks on things, to be honest with you, so I don't ever have time to sit and level with emotion.
I think for me, super perfection is about a lot of stuff. I don't give myself a lot of breaks on things, to be honest with you, so I don't ever have time to sit and level with emotion.
I think we did compete with each other at a point. But I think it's all fairly laid out as it is now, and we've all had our success in completely different areas.
I think we did compete with each other at a point. But I think it's all fairly laid out as it is now, and we've all had our success in completely different areas.
Almost like having like a weird midlife crisis halfway through because you don't really know if what you're doing is the right thing. For some certain circumstances, I'm quite lucky to be here still. which is something I've never really shared with anyone. Explain, explain.
Almost like having like a weird midlife crisis halfway through because you don't really know if what you're doing is the right thing. For some certain circumstances, I'm quite lucky to be here still. which is something I've never really shared with anyone. Explain, explain.
There's times where that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day, getting into you every day, like I say, just every so often, you're like, when will they send?
There's times where that level of loneliness and people getting into you every day, getting into you every day, like I say, just every so often, you're like, when will they send?
one moment where there was an argument backstage and someone one member in particular threw me up a wall so i said to him if you don't remove those hands there's a high likelihood you'll never use them again it almost felt like he was high off of his own ego at that point it stung to hear some of the comments that he made liam's been honest about his struggles with sobriety we see this a lot with celebrities you know the signs and the patterns
one moment where there was an argument backstage and someone one member in particular threw me up a wall so i said to him if you don't remove those hands there's a high likelihood you'll never use them again it almost felt like he was high off of his own ego at that point it stung to hear some of the comments that he made liam's been honest about his struggles with sobriety we see this a lot with celebrities you know the signs and the patterns
Did you ever go out to sit on stage a bit wonky? Oh, loads, yeah. Yeah, yeah, loads. I'd have a couple of drinks to get myself in the mood. Did it make you feel more confident drinking? Yeah, definitely. I think it made you confident, made you relax a little bit more into it. But then, for me, it would just always go a bit too far and a bit too far. I think because adrenaline pushes you through.
Did you ever go out to sit on stage a bit wonky? Oh, loads, yeah. Yeah, yeah, loads. I'd have a couple of drinks to get myself in the mood. Did it make you feel more confident drinking? Yeah, definitely. I think it made you confident, made you relax a little bit more into it. But then, for me, it would just always go a bit too far and a bit too far. I think because adrenaline pushes you through.
I just took a little bit of time out, actually. Sorry for the MIA. You guys know there was a few reasons why I did that. And I just need to take a little bit of time out for myself, actually, because I kind of became somebody who I didn't really recognize anymore.
I just took a little bit of time out, actually. Sorry for the MIA. You guys know there was a few reasons why I did that. And I just need to take a little bit of time out for myself, actually, because I kind of became somebody who I didn't really recognize anymore.
Hi, I'm Liam and the perfect girl for me would be someone who's maybe a little bit shy, very cute, really nice smile and nice eyes.
Hi, I'm Liam and the perfect girl for me would be someone who's maybe a little bit shy, very cute, really nice smile and nice eyes.
At times you fall out of love with it. And also you're not under any impression this isn't going to stop at some point. Like a lifespan for an average pop star, I've outlived most lifespans with that sort of thing, which has been amazing. Really, really cool. And I think part of that's probably from starting so young, but you know it's going to end at some point.
At times you fall out of love with it. And also you're not under any impression this isn't going to stop at some point. Like a lifespan for an average pop star, I've outlived most lifespans with that sort of thing, which has been amazing. Really, really cool. And I think part of that's probably from starting so young, but you know it's going to end at some point.
So what's your biggest fear? What scares you? What's my biggest fear?
So what's your biggest fear? What scares you? What's my biggest fear?
I mean, becoming a dad at such a young age is such a difficult thing. And I think I built fatherhood up so much in my head that it kind of messed me up to start off with. And I kind of started in a bad place with it. I think it kind of spooked me out early on. And I was just worried that I would not be enough to look after the both of them. I mean, that's so important to me.
I mean, becoming a dad at such a young age is such a difficult thing. And I think I built fatherhood up so much in my head that it kind of messed me up to start off with. And I kind of started in a bad place with it. I think it kind of spooked me out early on. And I was just worried that I would not be enough to look after the both of them. I mean, that's so important to me.
We sold so many records. We were in stadiums every day, 94,000 people every day. Once you reach that height, I suppose one of the reasons I struggled the most out of it is because you're never really going to reach that height again. And having to deal with that at a young age, I was always going to mess it up somewhere, is what I would say about myself.
We sold so many records. We were in stadiums every day, 94,000 people every day. Once you reach that height, I suppose one of the reasons I struggled the most out of it is because you're never really going to reach that height again. And having to deal with that at a young age, I was always going to mess it up somewhere, is what I would say about myself.
Niall Horan's playing down there. And I think we might just go and say, hello.
Niall Horan's playing down there. And I think we might just go and say, hello.
That mountain for me was 1D. And music after that, like I said, you're never going to keep up with. We sold so many records, we broke so many records, we did so many things.
That mountain for me was 1D. And music after that, like I said, you're never going to keep up with. We sold so many records, we broke so many records, we did so many things.
I suppose one of the reasons I struggled the most out of it is because you're never really going to reach that height again. You need to have something to strive for and I feel like I'm finding that a little bit more now.
I suppose one of the reasons I struggled the most out of it is because you're never really going to reach that height again. You need to have something to strive for and I feel like I'm finding that a little bit more now.
A lovely day here in Argentina. This is the breakfast table.
A lovely day here in Argentina. This is the breakfast table.
At this stage in my life, like what even is normal anymore? It's like, you know, for the majority of it, My life's really abnormal. To the outside world, it seems that I've got everything I need. But, you know, in a lot of circumstances, there's so many different parts that are missing, and uncertainty is a big thing in my life, because I don't know how long this is going to last for.
At this stage in my life, like what even is normal anymore? It's like, you know, for the majority of it, My life's really abnormal. To the outside world, it seems that I've got everything I need. But, you know, in a lot of circumstances, there's so many different parts that are missing, and uncertainty is a big thing in my life, because I don't know how long this is going to last for.
When we were in the band, the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms. And of course, what's in the room? Mini bar. So at a certain point, I thought, well, I'm going to have a party for one. And that just seemed to carry on throughout many years of my life.
When we were in the band, the best way to secure us because of how big it got was just lock us in our rooms. And of course, what's in the room? Mini bar. So at a certain point, I thought, well, I'm going to have a party for one. And that just seemed to carry on throughout many years of my life.
And then you look back, how long you've been drinking and stuff, and you're like, Jesus Christ, that's a long time. Even for someone who's, you know, as drunk as I was.
And then you look back, how long you've been drinking and stuff, and you're like, Jesus Christ, that's a long time. Even for someone who's, you know, as drunk as I was.
And I could never watch X Factor because I was always heartbroken because I'd been the guy who made it really far and then got let go, and it ruined me when I was 14.
And I could never watch X Factor because I was always heartbroken because I'd been the guy who made it really far and then got let go, and it ruined me when I was 14.