Niall Horan Reflects on Happy Memory of Liam Payne

is 'glad' his final memory of bandmate Liam Payne is a 'happy' one. 

The singer, 32, saw Liam in Argentina at his The Show: Live on Tour concert in Buenos Aires, just days before his friend passed away aged 31 on October 16, 2024 after falling from his hotel balcony. 

Niall said he will always be thankful they shared that time together, though he is still struggling to grasp the fact he'll never see him again.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Niall said: 'I'm glad of that, it means my last memory of him was happy.

'It still feels surreal. On day one I was, like, "Nah, it didn't happen". Our friendship was a bond that was there for ever even if we hadn't seen each other for a while and it's wild that one day, like the flick of a switch, he's gone.'

The Slow Hands hitmaker explained there is 'light and shade' to his grief because he enjoys thinking back to the good times they shared.

He explained: 'When I think of Liam's passing, there is sadness, but it also makes me laugh and smirk because of the memories we had. I'll go to places and think of something stupid in a hotel or something random that makes me laugh.

'We always had good fun in Australia because we were able to get out and go to the beach. Liam wasn't too bad at surfing. I can barely swim.'

Niall revealed he is still in contact with Liam's family as they all 'shared those experiences' of finding global fame as teenagers together. 

The Slow Hands hitmaker's new album, Dinner Party, includes a tribute to Liam called End of an Era, and he thinks the late star would have liked it because he enjoyed 'songs that went somewhere'. 

Although the rest of One Direction haven't heard the song yet, Louis Tomlinson wrote his own tribute to Liam, Dark to Light. 

Niall recalled 'sharing the loss' with fans when he watched his friend Louis in concert in Paris last month.

Niall, Liam and Louis found fame on The X Factor in 2010 alongside bandmates Harry Styles and Zayn Malik. 

It comes after Niall revealed he won't be attending his ex-bandmate 's wedding, after the singer got engaged to actress .

Harry is believed to have gotten engaged to the actress, 37, after a whirlwind eight month romance - with Zoë pictured last month with an enormous diamond ring on her wedding finger. 

Niall was asked about the upcoming nuptials during a recent radio interview, but joked he was 'too busy' to attend Harry's big day.

Speculation surrounding Harry's wedding is mounting with sources saying the couple have been eyeing up locations in the South of  or . 

Niall, Liam and Louis found fame on The X Factor in 2010 alongside bandmates Harry Styles and Zayn Malik; pictured 2012