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One Direction Joins The Beatles As The Only Group To See At Least Three Members Hit No. 1 Solo

One Direction Joins The Beatles As The Only Group To See At Least Three Members Hit No. 1 Solo

One Direction Joins The Beatles As The Only Group To See At Least Three Members Hit No. 1 Solo
October 31
09:42 2017

This week, British pop singer Niall Horan rules the Billboard 200 with his debut solo album Flicker, which easily takes the top spot thanks to over 150,000 units moved. The accomplishment isn’t just a win for Horan, but also the band that made him a star in the first place.

The “Slow Hands” singer is the third One Direction member to score a No. 1 album in the U.S. on his own, which is an incredibly rare feat for any group. According to Billboard, 1D is now only the second band to see at least three former members go on to top the Billboard 200 with a solo effort, joining one of the most successful acts of all time: The Beatles.

After becoming the biggest band on the planet and racking up 14 No. 1 albums while they were together (the group went on to collect several more after splitting, bringing their career total to 19, which still stands as the most chart-toppers on the albums tally for any act), three of the four Beatles members went on to reach the peak of the Billboard 200 with releases under their own names.

Paul McCartney has the most leaders of any former Beatles musician, with six (McCartneyBand On The RunVenus And MarsAt The Speed Of SoundWings Over America and Tug Of War) to his credit including works with his band Wings. John Lennon earned three (Imagine, Walls And Bridges and Double Fantasy), while George Harrison has two (All Things Must Pass and Living In The Material World).

Ringo Starr is the only Beatle who hasn’t yet hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with one of his solo albums, though he came close in 1973 with his self-titled album, which stalled in the runner-up slot.

The three One Direction members who have thus far dropped solo records—Zayn, Harry Styles and now Niall Horan—have all seen their efforts debut at No. 1. Zayn was the first to do so with Mind Of Mine in 2016, and both Niall and Harry have seen their albums (Flicker and Harry Styles, respectively) start at the top this year. So far, none of them have shared a second full-length, though it appears that Zayn may be gearing up to do so in the not too distant future.

Fellow singers Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson have yet to finish albums, though when they do, they could join this exclusive club and make One Direction the first band in history to see four former members hit No. 1 on their own. Payne likely has the best chance of doing so, as his debut single under his real name, “Strip That Down,” became a top 10 hit in the U.S., and he’s just released its follow-up “Bedroom Floor.” Tomlinson is seemingly just getting started, but don’t count him out just yet.

Source: One Direction Joins The Beatles As The Only Group To See At Least Three Members Hit No. 1 Solo

About Author

Martin Nethercutt

Martin Nethercutt

Martin A Nethercutt is a writer, singer, producer and loves music. Creative Director at McCartney Studios Editor-in-Chief at McCartney Times Creator-in-Chief at Geist Musik President (title) at McCartney Multimedia, Inc. Went to Albert-Schweitzer-Schule Kassel Lives in Playa del Rey From Kassel, Germany Married to Ruth McCartney

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