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One Direction’s Tour Bus Throwback Pictures Are Making Fans Nostalgic

2 June 2021, 14:53 | Updated: 2 June 2021, 16:03

By Capital FM

Some photos taken during One Direction’s tour bus days in 2012 has made us all super reminiscent.

The One Direction boys have never failed to give fans an insight into their most memorable moments and one throwback, in particular, is making us all emotional AF today.

Remember those tour bus days? We remember them well, and one moment from their days on the road back in 2012 has made its way online for a heartwarming trip down memory lane.

Liam Payne Hilariously Calls Out Niall Horan For A Game Of Golf

The posts that have been circulating on social media were taken all the way back on June 1, 2012 - a whole nine years ago!

Die-hard Directioners will know it was during the ‘Take Me Home’ era and what a time to be alive that was!

One Direction sing with James Corden for Carpool Karaoke

Today (June 1) in 2012 - Niam live that late-night tour bus life ☺☺ pic.twitter.com/EGXjcKA2UZ — This Day in 1D History (@todays1dhistory) June 1, 2021

A 1D fan shared a series of snaps showing Niall Horan and Liam Payne laying in the bunk beds on their tour bus opposite each other, and their baby faces are making us seriously nostalgic!

The pictures were followed by a screenshot of a tweet Niall sent to Liam at the time, which read: “I can see you..

“Ur in the bed next t me ahahahhaa… [sic].”

We know what you’re thinking - where were Harry Styles , Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson ?

More than likely also getting up to some 1D chaos on the tour bus as well, tbh.

Fans were quick to comment on the throwback, with one writing: “Those were the days.”

Others couldn’t get over how young they were, with another writing: “BYE THEY LOOK TWELVE,” while another penned, “THEY LOOK 12 I CANT BREATHE [sic].”

The snaps were taken two years after the boys met on the X Factor when their band was formed, so they were still just teens!

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A London Tour Through One Direction Music Videos

One fun way to experience another country is to get to know it through its music . Music is like a time capsule. It tells you a lot about the identity and interests of a specific period that other experiences may not be able to.

While waiting for travel to become safer, why not take a virtual London tour through the lenses of one of the biggest boy bands of recent times? Who better to take you on an English trip than One Direction, right?

Just a little tip: this trip will be more fun if you sing along. Review the music, watch the music videos, and ready your vocal cords. Kick your preps up a notch by taking singing lessons in the meantime!

But First, Why One Direction?

As one of the most memorable British acts of the 2010s, why not? They have several music videos that prominently feature famous London landmarks that both Directioners and casual tourists will definitely recognize.

Fangirl/fanboy or not, watching One Direction music videos feels a bit like getting to know the London of six to 10 years ago. I think this is even a cause to get more excited about traveling again. It’s interesting to see how places evolve with time.

1D Songs and London Landmarks

Not all 1D music videos were filmed in London. But here is a shortlist of their London-shot videos and a few tips to help you when the time comes to visit.

One Thing: Open-top Bus Tour

The “One Thing” music video saw the boy band taking a London tour on a double-deck bus. Some famous locations you may notice in the video are Millennium Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and the Parliament.

Trafalgar Square is the place where the five members did a live performance in the music video. The area is a historical landmark, made to remember the British victory against French and Spanish troops during the Battle of Trafalgar . The place is riddled with statues and fixtures commemorating historical figures, so take the time to look at them all when you visit.

One Way or Another: 10 Downing Street

“One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)” is a cover/medley of American band Blondie’s “One Way or Another” and The Undertones’ “Teenage Kicks.” The music video was shot in various locations in Africa, New York, Tokyo, and London. It was released in support of Comic Relief, a British charity.

In one of its scenes, you can see the members up to some funny shenanigans with then-Prime Minister David Cameron. This was filmed in 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British prime minister. The area is, unfortunately, not open to the public for safety reasons.

But don’t worry because a copy of the 10 Downing Street door exists in London. Just visit 10 Adam Street , which is nearby from The Strand. To the untrained eye, it looks similar to the iconic 10 Downing Street black door!

Midnight Memories: River Thames and Tower Bridge

This is another music video where they go around London, but they do it at night. In this one, they take a boat ride on the River Thames. There are many available cruises with different offerings, but I suggest you go for one that allows you to hop on and hop off at various landmarks. It saves you a lot of walking!

The boys also climb up Tower Bridge, one of the most recognizable London landmarks. Aside from being a stunner from afar, the tower also lets you climb up to get a thrill from its glass-bottom walkways.

Night Changes: Museum of Natural History

Harry Styles’ ice skating scenes were shot at the London’s National History Museum skating rink. Yes, the National History Museum has its own ice skating rink! This place is trendy during the holiday season.

Should you wish to go skating here, I advise you to wear thick socks because the skates may be a little uncomfortable. You are also allowed to bring your own skates if you have a pair.

COVID-19 Setbacks

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have put a pause in tourism for many countries. The United Kingdom has been similarly affected.

This means temporary closures for tourist attractions and popular landmarks until the situation gets better. Tourists may not even be allowed entry to the country at all. As guidelines can change daily, regularly check airport and airline protocols and the statuses of tourist spots to get accurate information.

While waiting for wide vaccinations and the easing of travel restrictions, feel free to live vicariously through One Direction’s music videos! It’s safe, fun, and will give you a good time until the world returns to normal.

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All aboard: Computers, CCTV and customized leather seats... One Direction reveal their 'Scooby-Doo' themed tour bus

By Jason Chester

Published: 04:32 EDT, 16 September 2013 | Updated: 14:36 EDT, 16 September 2013

View comments

They’re about to embark on the final leg of their Take Me Home world tour – but when One Direction hit the road in Australia later this month it’s clear there’ll be no shortage of things to do between shows. 

The band have been resting up for the last few weeks after closing the US leg of their mammoth tour in Los Angeles on August 10.

Normal business will resume on September 23 when they kick off their Australian stretch with a show in Adelaide – and they plan to arrive in their very own, souped up ‘Mystery Machine.’ 

Scroll down for videos

This is us: Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson stand beside their tour bus, The Mystery Machine

All aboard: The band have been touring in this customized van

Standing guard: One Direction star Zayn observes the van he helped customize

Indeed, the lads have been touring the globe in the customised tour bus - designed to look exactly like the lime green van used by Scooby-Doo.

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Having been given free rein to create their very own tour bus, the band opted to model the exterior on their favourite cartoon – but that’s where the similarity ends.

Inside, the bus is a veritable Tardis crammed with everything a teenage boy could possibly want to while away long hours spent traveling from one destination to another.

Not bad: The interior boasts an array of individual screens

Details: No prizes for guessing where Zayn Malik sits when the band are on the road

Plenty of leg room: The band will have lots of room to stretch out between shows on their customized tour bus

Feeling peckish? The tour bus includes the obligatory fridge as well as an oven

The tools of the trade: An array of remote controls and games consoles litter one of the leather seats

Decked out in black paneling, the interior boasts hand-embroidered leather seats with each band-member’s initials stitched into each.

An array of Nintendo 64 games consoles are also on hand to ensure Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn never get bored, while a karaoke machine lends the tour bus a quirky flourish.

Extras include a loudspeaker attached to the roof to attract attention, while CCTV cameras beam a picture onto a large flat-screen TV.

Perhaps in a bid to detract over-zealous fans from clambering onboard it also features a water jet that squirts a powerful stream onto the pavement.

What a joy: One of the joysticks used by the One Direction boys during their time on the road

Comfort in mind: The seats recline so the boys can sit in comfort

Should the boys get peckish the obligatory fridge and cooking facilities are also featured, while the ceiling is adorned with cartoons from their favourite Marvel and DC comics.

While the exact cost of their van is unknown, it’s thought that its various customizations far exceed £100,000.

The group will perform 24 shows around Australia, ending with a final show at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on October 30.

While the culmination of their tour means bidding farewell to the Mystery Machine, the band will be reunited with the van when they return to the road for their Where We Are stadium tour in 2014.

We're watching: A CCTV camera monitors goings on outside the van

Getting animated: The ceiling is decorated in pages from the band's favourite comic books

Share or comment on this article: One Direction reveal their 'Scooby-Doo' tour bus with computers, CCTV and leather seats

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One Direction Tour Bus: Boy Band Checks Out Their New 'Scooby-Doo'-Themed Ride (VIDEO)

What's bright lime green, is equipped with a karaoke machine and has four wheels? One Direction's new "Scooby-Doo"-themed tour bus , of course.

In what may be the most elaborate bus we've seen, the boy band's newest mode of transportation is on another level. Not only is the bus replicated to look like the "Scooby-Doo" cartoon, but the "Mystery Machine" has everything from monogramed leather seats to flat screen TVs, giving new meaning to the phrase "riding in style."

Louis and Zayn stopped by to check out the finished product, and by the looks of it, they were impressed. Watch in the video above.

So guys... can we catch a ride?

Directioners, what do you think of the boys' stylish new bus? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Sound off in the comments or tweet @HuffPostTeen !

[ h/t The Daily Mail ]

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One Direction injured in bus crash

By Jenn Selby

One Direction were injured in a bus crash last night, leaving three members of the band with spinal injuries.

Ambulance crews and police rushed to the scene in Birmingham last night after their tour bus was smashed into.

Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles , Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne had just performed a show in the city before they were treated for neck injuries at the scene.

A source explained: "It was a close call. The lads and their two tour managers were pretty shaken up and were treated for varying degrees of whiplash.

"Yesterday they were seen by an osteopath who gave them the all-clear."

Despite the accident, the singers were determined to continue their planned tour date in Plymouth last night.

The source continued: "They came close to cancelling because of the crash but the boys didn't want to let down their avid fans. "As soon as they got the all-clear they decided to go ahead with the gig. It's lucky dancing in their live shows is kept to a minimum so it did not put extra stress on their bodies."

Niall Horan tweeted after the accident: "Guys, thanks for all you messages. We were involved in a really minor accident - we are all absolutely fine!"

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Louis Tomlinson's documentary is out: 6 surprising things the former 1D singer revealed

More than seven years after One Direction’s hiatus, Louis Tomlinson has found his confidence, sense of self and his solo sound.

That’s what fans learn in his new documentary, “All of Those Voices,” which screens in theaters worldwide starting Wednesday, March 22. The hour and 47-minute-long film follows Tomlinson from 1D’s final “X-Factor” performance in December 2015 through the present day and delves into his childhood, relationship with his family — including the deaths of his mom and younger sister — and self-discovery after the band.

Here’s everything fans will learn about Tomlinson in his new movie, including how he felt while in One Direction, how he struggled with the band’s break and what touring is like now.

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‘I don't see where I sit within this band,’ Louis Tomlinson says of 1D's early days

After One Direction was formed on “The X-Factor” in 2010, Tomlinson apparently struggled to find his place in the boy band.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

It started when he first heard their debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” and realizing “I wasn’t on it,” he says in "All of Those Voices." Though he remembers “singing a couple of different verses on the first single,” the track leans heavily on fellow bandmates Liam Payne and Harry Styles.

He pushed to make sure that he’d be in their second single, “Gotta Be You.” He worked with a producer and was “naïve enough” to think it would ensure his inclusion in the song.

“All I want is to sing a bit of this next song. And we’ll just stay here until I get it right,” Tomlinson recounted about recording his vocals for the song.

Again, the verse he’d painstakingly recorded didn’t make the final cut.

“There was an element of me feeling it doesn’t matter what I do. I’m not really in control here,” Tomlinson said. “And I don’t see where I sit within this band. … I was like, ‘Well if I’m not going to (expletive) sing, then what else am I going to do for this band?’”

More: The 10 best One Direction songs, definitively ranked

How Louis Tomlinson found his place in One Direction

It took a few years for Tomlinson to find his footing in the five-member band.

“The first two and a half years, I just felt like I wasn’t in control of myself and certainly not necessarily had an influence in the band,” he said.

Eventually, he “felt ownership in what we were doing” and “in control again.” Starting with their third studio album, “Midnight Memories,” he was credited as a co-writer for the majority of 1D’s songs. Looking back, Tomlinson is proud of having the most writing credits in the band, he says.

“By the end of it, I knew exactly who I was in the band. Because I was like, ‘I finally understand what my role is and who I am in this band,” he said. “I wanted to stay in the band, but that was not an option anymore.”

Louis Tomlinson: ‘I was not prepared’ for 1D’s break

In “All of Those Voices,” Tomlinson makes it clear that he was not the one to call off One Direction.

“I think the feeling that I remember the most was a little bit of anger because I didn’t want to go on a break. It upset me; it shocked me. I wasn’t prepared for it. I thought, for me, it was the band or nothing,” he said.

“It’s not as if in the five years I was in the band I’d ever dreamt about being a solo artist. Not once, not once, because I was so obsessed with us moving as a unit and being part of this team. I’ve spent all these years doing this; I don’t really see myself doing anything else.”

Whether he was ready for it or not, 1D’s last performance came when they took to “The X-Factor’s” stage a month after their fifth album, “Made in the A.M.,” released.

“Even right up until we went on the break, there was still really no closure on that idea,” Tomlinson said. “It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was not prepared for it. Not at all.”

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Why Louis struggled with his post-One Direction career

Tomlinson said he took a bit of time after the hiatus began to figure out what to do next. After taking some meetings and speaking with his mom, he decided to continue to pursue a career as a musician.

The transition was anything but easy, and comparing himself to his former bandmates didn’t help.

“It was very easy for me to imagine Harry having a solo career, Liam having a solo career. It was harder for me to imagine, like, myself doing that,” Tomlinson said.

“Where I left One Direction was I’d come off stage feeling like a god,” he said. “Now, I’m doing my own performances, and it feels like the opposite.”

It was difficult enough acclimating to being a headlining artist rather than a member of a band. On top of that, Tomlinson experienced some setbacks as his solo career was getting off the ground, including when his mother and sister died in 2016 and 2019, respectively.

“I felt like, from that moment, for years I couldn’t win. Life was just against me, and it didn’t want me to succeed,” he said. “I kept having all of these difficult things to deal with.”

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Louis finds his confidence as a solo artist

As the oldest of seven children by almost seven years, Tomlinson was very close to his mom — a relationship that several family members speak to in “All of Those Voices.”

Knowing that she wouldn’t want her death to set back his career, Tomlinson endeavored to find his sound with the support of his online fan base.

Writing “Kill My Mind” and “Walls” for his first studio album seemed like a turning point. But his stage presence and confidence in performing live were a sticking point.

In one scene, his vocal coach, Helene Hørlyck, accuses him of rushing through songs in order to get off the stage quickly. Though Tomlinson is doubtful heading into his first solo tour in March 2020, he ultimately is buoyed by the fan support he experiences while performing.

When it seems like he’s going to start hitting his stride, pandemic lockdowns begin to threaten the tour; he and his team realize, seemingly backstage at a venue, that they would have to rebook spaces for one year out.

“(I’ve been) waiting for that break,” Tomlinson says. “I’ll be waiting a little bit longer, I think.”

Every song she sang: All 44 song in Taylor Swift's Eras Tour opener, from 'All Too Well' to 'Anti-Hero'

‘I finally feel worthy of where I am’

After a two-year wait, Tomlinson finally resumed his tour with avid crowds greeting him in venues around the world.

“It’s my first solo tour, you know what I mean? I did not think I’d be in these kinds of experiences so soon into my touring career,” he says. “I’m really enjoying this momentum at the moment. I can feel myself getting better as a performer, better as a singer.”

“All of Those Voices” also shows how Tomlinson continues to live up to his partying persona while balancing his family life. Between getting rowdy in the back of the tour bus and causing havoc on stage with his bandmates, Tomlinson seems to spend time with his son, Freddie, who lives in LA.

“If I told myself five years ago that I was going to play 80 shows or 80-plus shows globally, bigger venues than I ever imagined, I swear I wouldn’t believe you,” he says. “In the last 12 months, I finally feel worthy of where I am, what I’m doing and the success I’m having throughout this.”

Where to watch 'All of Those Voices'

"All of Those Voices" is in theaters starting March 22. For showtimes and locations, go to https://www.allofthosevoices.com .

Reach the reporter at  [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter  @kimirobin  and Instagram  @ReporterKiMi .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today .

One Direction 'Mystery Machine' tour bus

One Direction are buying a customised version of Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine.

The 'Little Things' hitmakers - Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - are investing almost £70,000 on a vehicle styled like the van from the popular cartoon series and they hope to use it as a new tour bus.

An insider told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "The boys love cartoons and 'Scooby Doo' is a cult classic.

"They wanted to do something special ahead of their US tour and decided to get a bespoke tour bus created. The guys are desperate to have it shipped over to America so it can join them on tour.

"Scooby's obviously a US import and massive out there so they know the van will be a hit with both the fans - and their mums."

The van - which features a plasma screen TV behind the driver's head and entertainment consoles for each member - may be kept as a British exclusive if management don't feel transporting it to the US is viable.

The source added: "If management decides it's too expensive and impractical then they'll simply keep it as a fun vehicle for travelling from city to city over here [in the UK]."

As well as the band's 1D logo being added to the van, it will also featured entertainment consoles for each band member and a plasma screen on the wall behind the driver.

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Harry Styles vs. Zayn Malik: Who Is One Direction's Reigning Solo Star?

How did Harry Styles set himself up to lap Zayn Malik as the real breakout star of One Direction?

L: Mike Windle/Getty Images. R: Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

When One Direction formed in 2010 under the careful eye of reality singing competition genius Simon Cowell on the X Factor UK , they did the unthinkable: They lost. The band of boys, teenaged and doe-eyed, came in third, shedding a few gif-able tears, endearing them to millions watching. It was genius—they’d stick together after the program to pursue pop music as a real, underdog group nearly a decade after the boy band bubble burst. (When Justin Timberlake left *NSYNC and pop music turned to solo stars.)

When One Direction hit the scene, they did so at the exact moment the world was ready to embrace boy bands again, but it would be different this time: each member, sweet as sugar, would be able to grow into a superficially dangerous character. Choreography was out, tattoos were in—so long as long as each member’s role was well-defined. There would be a bad boy, a big brother, the cute, approachable one, the shy, mysterious guy, and most importantly, the heartthrob.

These roles, crucial to the boy band schema, were not so obvious with One Direction. Zayn Malik had the most dynamic range of the bunch, with a distinctive and tremble-free tone. He was also the most conventionally handsome (dude looks like a prince.) He should’ve been the heartthrob, the dude with the greatest potential of landing the Justin Timberlake/Nick Carter role. Except Malik was shy, deathly shy. Harry Styles, on the other hand, possessed a special charisma from the very beginning. (I like to think it stems from his days working in a bakery with elderly women in his native Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. Old women know everything.) So Styles, all charm and delicious brown locks, got the role, one he filled immediately and graciously.

Of course, there’s another reality here: Malik was the only person of color in One Direction, meaning there was a racial undercurrent to the decision. But in the earliest of early days of 1D it was apparent that Styles loved the limelight and Malik loved to sing.

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The arrangement worked for five years. Until March 25, 2015, when Malik announced his departure from the group. Initially claiming that he wanted to pursue life as a normal 22-year-old—a luxury he quite obviously would never get to enjoy as one of the world’s most famous 22-year-olds—he soon revealed solo aspirations and on a year to the date, dropped his debut LP, Mind of Mine , under the mononym Zayn. His departure was a shot heard ‘round the world, met with confusion, lament, and support. For fans, it was quite obvious that Malik had been unhappy for a while and when his lead single “Pillowtalk” dropped in 2016, it became clear that his frustrations extended beyond One Direction’s exhaustive tour-press-record-repeat schedule. Kept from the music he wanted to make by the 1D playbook, Malik shed his group to make R&B-lite, Weeknd-indebted pop as Zayn. In other words, Malik has had sex, and is a sexual person, and we needed to understand that.

The liberated, sex-having Malik got off to a strong start. His album debuted at No. 1, “Pillowtalk” went No. 1, he toured successfully, he scored a slew of late-night spots. Everything seemed to be turning up Malik until…it slowed. Malik departed One Direction at a time when the group’s future was uncertain (indefinite hiatus is the business-speak), so even with all of his success, Directioners couldn’t give Zayn their undivided attention. After all, what were the other guys doing? What about Harry?

In the wake of Zayn’s solo songwriting work, cutie-patootie Niall Horan has released a soft acoustic ballad, “Our Town,” a la Ed Sheeran. Bad boy Louis Tomlinson hit pop radio with the optimistic anthem “Just Hold On,” alongside EDM mastermind and heir to the Benihana throne Steve Aoki. Liam Payne had a baby, teamed up for a song with Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J , and announced that he had signed to Capitol Records.

It was Harry Styles, the heartthrob, who took his sweet time to swagger back into the musical spotlight. (Of course, he hasn’t been idle; he's been away at war. That is, he spent the last year and some change filming Christopher Nolan's upcoming World War II epic,  Dunkirk .) So when Harry Styles released his debut solo single, “Sign of the Times,” on April 7 of this year, the world was ready—because he made us wait.

Styles has long been adept at creating mythos and atmosphere, while offering just enough transparency. It’s not deceptive; we feel close to him though we only know Styles the performer, the boy band hottie, not Styles the person—a fact confirmed in his recent Rolling Stone cover story . (It’s worth noting that Malik was not given this honor, and neither was One Direction, even in the group’s prime.) Where Malik’s departure from One Direction felt rushed and necessary, Styles’ transition to solo star has had considerably more time to incubate.

So who is the Justin Timberlake of One Direction? The short answer is, Harry Styles. The long answer is, neither. While J.T. essentially broke up *NSYNC when he left, One Direction continued on without Zayn. The music Malik makes feels more in line with the popular music of today, whereas Styles feels vintage in a classic-rock, dorm-room kind of way, which should resonate with Directioners and their Fleetwood Mac-loving parents alike. From where we’re standing, it looks like both boys are on their way to long and successful solo careers, should they stay the path. Styles’ looks bigger, at least for now, because nothing beats the mysterious heartthrob.

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One direction have been involved in a ''terrifying'' bus crash that left them all treated for neck injuries..

by : Elle Canada - Jan 6th, 2012

One Direction have been involved in a “terrifying” bus crash. The ‘Gotta Be You’ hitmakers – Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Liam Payne – were all treated for neck injuries after a woman crashed into their vehicle when they were returning to their hotel following a concert in Birmingham on Wednesday night (04.01.12). The group were advised to cancel last night’s (05.01.12) show in Plymouth because three members had severe headaches and spinal pain, but they carried on as normal after being given the all-clear. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “It was pretty terrifying for everyone concerned. All five boys, plus two members of the crew, were in their tour bus when the car rammed into the back of it. “Thankfully, it withstood most of the impact but obviously, travelling at speed, the boys’ couldn’t avoid whiplash. After careering across the road, both vehicles came to a stop. Louis, Zayn and Niall were the worst affected. “Paramedics advised management to scrap the gig in Plymouth but because the boys didn’t want to let anyone down they agreed to go ahead.” Despite soldiering on with the concert, the boy band were “really shaken up” by the incident. Another source told The Sun newspaper: “It was a close call. The lads and their two tour managers were pretty shaken up, but yesterday they were seen by an osteopath who gave them the all-clear.” Niall took to twitter to thank all One Direction fans for their support and reassure them the group are “absolutely fine”. He wrote: “Guys, thanks for all you messages. We were involved in a really minor accident – we are all absolutely fine!”

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