Louis Tomlinson Mourns Late Bandmate Liam Payne: 'Would Have Loved to Share the Stage with You Again but It Wasn't to Be'

Louis Tomlinson is paying tribute to his former bandmate.

The singer posted in honor of his late bandmate Liam Payne on social media. Tomlinson's tribute followed the news that Payne, 31, had died after falling multiple stories at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16, Policía Federal Argentina confirmed to PEOPLE.

"I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother. Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul," Tomlinson, 32, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the two with Payne's arm around him.

"I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for. Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band."

He continued, "And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam."

Tomlinson then closed with a "message to you Liam, if you're listening."

"I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours , reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life. I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be," he wrote.

"I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was. I wish I got [the] chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you."

He ended with: "Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X"

Payne, Tomlinson,  Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan, performed together in beloved boy band, One Direction, from 2010-2016. The group disbanded a year after Malik left the band in 2015. Their indefinite hiatus followed the release of their fifth and final album, Made in the A.M.

In recent years, all five have released solo music. More recently, Tomlinson performed at various festivals this past spring and summer, and Payne attended Tomlinson’s Buenos Aires show in Apri. Meanwhile, in March, Payne dropped his latest single, "Teardrops," alongside songwriter Jamie Scott and JC Chasez of *NSYNC.

In 2023, Tomlinson released a documentary, All of Those Voices, and Payne attended the London April premiere.

At the premiere, Tomlinson told Rolling Stone that it "means the world" to him that Payne was there. "I didn't actually expect him to come, but he told me a couple of days ago he was coming, so really just an honor and a testament to him as a guy, definitely," he said.

After the event, Payne reminisced on their time in the band and his admiration for the singer with a heartfelt Instagram post.

"Seeing the world through your eyes last night was the most beautiful thing to experience," Payne wrote, alongside a photo of the pair. "My neck hurts from how much I'm looking up to you right now. You were already my friend and brother but getting to look through that window into your world and mind just extends that respect I have for you."

"I'm so thankful to have you in my life mate. I feel so lucky and I know you know this but you were part of a small group of people that literally saved my life, you dragged me out of something so dark I've never shared it, but your approach is something I admire and aspire to so I can one day do the same."

Tomlinson replied and thanked his friend for the support: "Special thank you to Liam for being there for me. It means the absolute world. Love you lad!"

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One Direction was first formed on the British singing competition TV series The X Factor, where they placed in third before eventually signing with Simon Cowell's record label, becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.