Months before Liam Payne’s tragic death, the former One Direction member filmed an appearance as a mentor on Netflix’s upcoming competition series, Building the Band.
Us Weekly confirmed that Payne died at age 31 on October 16, 2024. He suffered “serious injuries” after falling from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to Buenos Aires emergency service chief Alberto Crescenti.
Building the Band was greenlit by Netflix in May 2024, though filming on the series wrapped in August.
‘The X Factor UK’ Honors ‘Immensely Talented’ Liam Payne After His Death
Us Weekly rounds up everything there is to know about Netflix’s Building the Band:
Has ‘Building the Band’ Wrapped Filming?
Building the Band wrapped filming in August 2024. The production consisted of three live shows filmed in front of an audience at Aviva Studios in Manchester. Some One Direction fans who attended the recording had the opportunity to meet Payne, posting photos with the singer on social media.
Who Will Appear on ‘Building the Band’?
Former One Direction member Payne served as a mentor on Building the Band alongside Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls and Destiny’s Child alum Kelly Rowland, with Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean as the host.
Rowland spoke positively of her experience working with Payne. In an August 2024 interview with People, she said, “Liam is absolutely hilarious. I didn’t know how funny he was, so I’m getting to know him, and he is so cool.”
As for Scherzinger, the singer was notably a judge on X Factor UK in 2010 and, alongside Simon Cowell, assembled One Direction after auditions. The group consisted of Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan.
What Is the Premise of ‘Building the Band’?
Building the Band brought 50 singers together for this competition series where they will attempt to form their own band without ever seeing each other. The idea is for the musicians to connect through “musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit.”
Per EW, Netflix described Building the Band as “a truly unique competition show where building the perfect band is all about chemistry,” further teasing, “What will happen when the bands finally meet, and looks, choreography, and style come into play? With incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal — to find the next great music band — the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.”
Is There a Trailer for ‘Building the Band’?
Netflix released the trailer for Building the Band on June 24, 2025, featuring the first look at Payne as a mentor on the show. In one clip, the late singer told a group, “You got a lot of work to do vocally. I need to feel that connection between you guys.”
Payne also reflected on his experience with One Direction to offer advice to the contestants. “To have these bands put together is not normal, we were put together that way,” he said.
Does ‘Building the Band’ Have a Release Date?
In June 2025, Netflix announced that Building the Band will premiere on July 9, 2025. During the first week, fans will be able to watch episodes 1-4. Episodes 5, 6 and 7 will drop on July 16, 2025, followed by the final three episodes on July 23, 2025.
