Styles’ words come after he and fellow One Direction members Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik released a joint statement paying tribute to Payne. “The memories we shared with him will be remembered forever. At the moment our thoughts are with his family, his friends and the fans who loved him by our side,” the four wrote. “We will miss him terribly.”

Tomlinson also paid personal tribute to Payne, calling him “a positive, fun and kind soul” and “the most important part of One Direction.”

“I’m so grateful that we’ve become even closer because the band talking on the phone for hours and reminiscing about all the thousands of wonderful memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have a lifetime “I would have loved to share the stage with you again, but that shouldn’t happen,” Tomlinson continued, writing directly to Payne. “I wish I had the chance to say goodbye and tell you again how much I loved you. Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you, buddy. Sleep well.”

Malik also shared a solo tribute, writing: “When it came to music Liam, you were the best in every way. … I lost a brother when you left us, and I cannot explain to you what I would give to hug you one last time, say goodbye, and tell you that I loved and respected you very much .”

Styles and Payne were two of the five members of One Direction, the British boy band formed in 2010 after the group teamed up on “The X Factor” and signed to Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment label. With more than 70 million records sold and top hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes” and “Story of My Life,” the group became one of the music industry’s dominant acts of the 2010s. In 2017, Payne debuted as a solo singer with “Strip That Down,” after One Direction announced an indefinite hiatus the year before and the other members ventured out on their own careers. In 2019 he released his debut album “LP1”.