THE TICKER – To celebrate the release of their 2013 studio album “Midnight Memories,” One Direction announced the “Where We Are” world tour, which kicked off the following year.

Little did fans know that this would be the last time they would see Zayn Malik perform live with the band.

In 2015, shortly after the start of the “On The Road Again” tour, the singer announced his departure from One Direction in a Facebook post and officially left the group in March.

A decade later, the singer—who now goes professionally by ZAYN—has released his fourth studio album, “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS,” and is currently on the last leg of his first-ever solo tour.

ZAYN announced the “Stairway to the Sky Tour” during a brief surprise appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” on Sept. 17.

“Hey Jimmy, great to see you, mate,” Zayn wrote on a note card to Fallon. “I’m going on my first ever solo tour this autumn, so maybe when you’re done picking apples with your buds, you can come check out my “Stairway to the Sky” tour across the U.S. and U.K. I’m making an official announcement tomorrow morning. Let me know what day you need tickets for.”

The announcement followed the May 15, 2024 release of “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS,” which features 15 original songs written and produced by the singer himself.

On May 20, 2024, he released “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS (Z SIDES),” which includes five bonus tracks.

The tour announcement featured stops in major U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., and New York.

Following the U.S. leg, the singer was set to move on to the U.K., with the tour originally expected to conclude in Newcastle on Dec. 3, 2024.

Due to overwhelming demand during presale and general ticket sales, ZAYN added additional dates to give more fans the chance to see him live, including second shows in New York and D.C., as well as two extra dates in Los Angeles.

Originally scheduled for late 2024, the tour was abruptly halted following the tragic passing of former One Direction member Liam Payne on Oct. 17.

ZAYN was originally set to tour the U.S. first, but after Payne’s passing, he postponed the American dates and instead began in the U.K. before resuming the U.S. leg in January.

ZAYN and Payne shared a close yet sometimes tense relationship during their time in One Direction. Since the start of the tour, ZAYN has included a tribute to his late bandmate at the end of each show.

The screen displays the words “Love you bro” above a red heart against a purple background while the song “Stardust” plays, mirroring his Instagram post following Payne’s death.

Since the tour began, fans have shared the setlist online, which primarily features songs from “ROOM UNDER THE STAIRS.” However, ZAYN also included a few of his most popular songs from past albums, such as “iT’s YoU,” “Sweat,” and “PILLOWTALK.”

One of the most talked-about moments of the tour came on the second night in Los Angeles when Louis Tomlinson, the oldest former member of One Direction, made a surprise appearance in the audience.

This marked the first time ZAYN and Louis had publicly acknowledged each other since Payne’s passing and since One Direction split in 2016, making it a significant and nostalgic moment for longtime fans.

“So tonight’s kind of special. An old friend of mine is here to support me tonight. He’s hidden somewhere here. I don’t want to give his location away, but Louis is here tonight,” ZAYN said during the show.

Photos of Tomlinson seated on the balcony began circulating on X and Reddit. Some fans also pointed out that, in a way, the night symbolized a reunion of three One Direction members—ZAYN, Tomlinson, and Payne in spirit.

The “Stairway to the Sky” tour“ has been a massive success, with every show selling out rapidly and additional dates being added due to overwhelming demand.

What was originally intended to be a limited tour quickly grew into something much bigger. Initially, the tour was set to conclude in Newcastle, but due to immense demand, ZAYN recently announced one final stop: three back-to-back shows in Mexico City.

The first two shows sold out within minutes, leading to the addition of a third and final show, marking the conclusion of what has become a significant milestone in ZAYN’s solo career.

For years, ZAYN was labeled as the more withdrawn and shy member of One Direction. ZAYN has often spoken about his struggles with anxiety, even citing stress as the reason for his departure from the band.

“I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight,” Malik said in his official statement, posted via One Direction’s Facebook account in 2015.

In later interviews, ZAYN revealed that his departure was also due to feeling restricted within the band’s pop sound. He expressed that he felt disconnected from the group’s musical direction and wanted to explore genres such as R&B and more experimental music.

ZAYN has also spoken of his struggles with an eating disorder during his time in One Direction, which were major contributors to his decision to leave.

Immediately after stepping down, the singer began working on his solo career, releasing “Mind of Mine,” his debut album in 2016, which led to the hit single “PILLOWTALK.”

For longtime fans, “STAIRWAY TO THE SKY” is more than just a concert—it’s proof that after years of uncertainty, ZAYN is back, stronger than ever and ready to share his music with the world on his terms.