Zayn Malik made a deeply emotional return to the stage on Saturday during his *Stairway to the Sky* tour, as he performed at the Leeds O2 Academy. The 31-year-old singer’s comeback was charged with sentiment as he honored his late One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne, who tragically passed away on October 16.
The rescheduled concert, which fans had eagerly awaited, became a touching moment of reflection. During the performance, a powerful tribute to Liam was displayed on the stage backdrop: “Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you, bro,” accompanied by a red heart, eliciting a heartfelt response from the crowd.
Zayn, who opened the show with a warm comment about his Northern roots, saying, “It’s good to be back up North,” later stunned the audience with a surprise performance. He sang his chart-topping hit *Pillow Talk* live for the first time, marking a significant moment in his career. “This might be a pretty decent moment for you all. This is the first time I’ve ever sung this song live… this song is called Pillow Talk,” he shared with the crowd.
The singer donned a black Tupac T-shirt, grey denim cargo trousers, and a red cap that matched his microphone, later adding a denim jacket as he delivered an emotional performance. The tribute to Liam was felt deeply by both Zayn and the audience, with many fans expressing their empathy for the singer’s difficult moment.
“Such a lovely tribute! I can’t imagine how he’s feeling right now,” one fan remarked, while another added, “Zayn’s tribute to Liam at his first show back – my heart’s breaking all over again.”
