Shocking Band Exits Through the Years

Going their own way. For some musical artists, they needed to leave their former bands to explore opportunities as a solo act.

Zayn Malik did just that in 2015. He left his longtime One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne to embark upon a solo music career, dropping his debut record the following year. The singer has had success through songs including “Pillowtalk” and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever,” a song that he performed alongside Taylor Swift for the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack.

While speaking with British Vogue in 2018, he explained the reasoning behind his decision to leave the band. “We went from theaters to arenas to stadiums — there was never any sort of bridge between. Just boom, boom, boom,” he told the magazine at the time. “I guess that kind of progression to any mind — but especially when you’re 17, 18 — it kind of affects you a little bit.”

Malik added, “People take it different ways — especially when there are five different personalities. The relationships had broken apart.”

Despite fan hopes of a 1D reunion, the group did not reunite. Tragically, the remaining four members were next seen all together at Payne’s funeral in November 2024. (Payne died at age 31 one month prior after falling from a third-story hotel balcony in Argentina.)

Scroll down to see the many stars who have left their groups over the years.