15 Photos of One Direction at Their Peak, from Goofing Off on SNL to Sold-Out Concerts

Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction arrive at — One Direction in 2012. Photo:
John Shearer/Getty

One Direction's domination of culture in the early 2010s was total, whether they were selling out shows or just goofing off backstage.

Made up of five singers (Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson) put together by Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger during season 7 of X Factor U.K., One Direction didn't win their season but still went on to become one of the biggest boy bands in the world.

After five years in the group, Malik announced his departure in March 2015. Styles, Payne, Horran and Tomlinson would continue as a quartet before going on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Each member would release solo projects in the years that followed and find success in their respective lanes.

In the wake of Liam Payne's death at age 31 on Oct. 16, look back at some of the most fun, goofy and memorable moments from One Direction's heyday.

01 of 15

In the Beginning

X Factor contestants One Direction (left to right) Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Niall Horan arrive for rehearsals at Fountain Studios, Wembley, north west London — One Direction competing for 'X Factor'.
Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty

In this quintessential throwback from 2010, the young lads are pictured before heading into rehearsals for X Factor.

02 of 15

Utter Shock

X Factor's One Direction left to right: Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik arrive for an autograph signing session — One Direction signing autographs.
Anna Gowthorpe/PA Images via Getty

Whatever or whomever they were staring at must have been truly shocking.

03 of 15

Hitting the Scene

Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles of One Direction attend the BBC — One Direction at the BBC Teen Awards.
Dave Hogan/Getty

Fresh off their X Factor run, One Direction attended the BBC Teen Awards at Wembley Arena on Oct. 9, 2011.

04 of 15

Another Number One

Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One direction — One Direction in 2011.
Dave Hogan/Getty

The boys jumped for joy while celebrating the release of "What Makes You Beautiful."

05 of 15

Paying It Forward

Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne of British singing group One Direction performs on FOX's "The X Factor" Season 2 Top 13 To 12 Live — One Direction in 2012.
FOX Image Collection via Getty

After garnering global success, 1D went back to their roots, performing on season 2 of X Factor U.S.A. in 2012.

06 of 15

That One Thing

We love a coordinating boy band moment. The boys touched down at the 2012 Kids' Choice Awards wearing different variations of navy and white ensembles.

07 of 15

Selling Out the Big Venues

English-Irish boy band One Direction performs at Madison Square Garden Monday. ( — One Direction performing at Madison Square Garden.
Craig Warga/NY Daily News via Getty

After what Billboard called a "banner year," One Direction reached even higher heights when the band sold out Madison Square Garden in 2012.

08 of 15

Morning Tea

Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne from One Direction Visit ET Canada on March 26, 2012 in Toronto, Canada — One Direction in 2012.
George Pimentel/WireImage

The group got a taste of home while visiting ET Canada in 2012.

09 of 15

Winners' Rejoice

Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan of One Direction accept Choice Group award onstage during the Teen Choice Awards 2013 at — One Direction at the Teen Choice Awards.
Kevin Winter/Getty

No other band had the tweens losing their minds at the level One Direction was in the early 2010s, so it was only right that they were awarded the Choice Group award at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards.

10 of 15

Leaning Into the Moment

Harry Styles as Carlito, Liam Payne as Martito, Louis Tomlinson as Pepito, Niall Horan as Dick, Zayn Malik, (Center, l-r) Sofia Vergara as Yolanda Melinda Netoyez, — One Direction on 'SNL' in 2012.
Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

One Direction made their musical guest debut on the April 12, 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live, where in addition to singing, they performed in "The Manual Ortiz Show" sket helmed by Fred Armisen and Sofia Vergara.

11 of 15

Working the Crowd

Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik of One Direction — One Direction at the MTV VMAs in 2012.
Kevin Winter/Getty

At the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, the quintet did what they did best (performed to a sea of screaming fans).

12 of 15

Vocal Face Off

Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Harry Styles of One Direction, Liam Payne, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Steve Carell — One Direction on 'SNL'.
Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

The ultimate supergroup?! One Direction joined some of the men from the Anchorman cast to form what Paul Rudd dubbed "Nine Direction" in this hilarious SNL skit from 2013.

13 of 15

And They Danced All Night

One Direction and Vampire Weekend speak onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City — One Direction at the VMAs in 2013.
Rick Diamond/Getty

At the 2013 MTV VMAs, One Direction snagged the Moonperson for song of the summer. The tune in question? "Best Song Ever," of course.

14 of 15

Just A Group of Boys Chatting

One Direction members Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on December 23, 2014 — One Direction with Jimmy Fallon.
Douglas Gorenstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

In an impromptu moment, One Direction did a "floor interview" with Jimmy Fallon while visiting his show in 2014.

15 of 15

Spreading Christmas Cheer

Jimmy Fallon and The Roots sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with One Direction members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson during the music room bit on December — One Direction with Jimmy Fallon.
Douglas Gorenstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Later in the show, the band joined Jimmy Fallon and The Roots for an acoustic version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" played with classroom instruments.