Zayn Malik has been praised for performing alongside an all-female band on his first ever solo tour.
The former One Direction member, 31, returned to the stage in November for the first time following bandmate Liam Payne’s death in October, performing a range of songs from his latest album Room Under The Stairs.
Malik delighted fans by employing seven women to accompany him: guitarist Molly Miller, the drummer known as Baby Bulldog, singers Lisa Ramey, Tahira Clayton and Rebecca Haviland, keyboard player Tina Hizon and bassist Ryan Madora.
Sharing a photo on social media of the band by a christmas tree, Ramey wrote: “The ladies say hello.” The post was met with much celebration from Malik fans.
“I’m currently a female drummer in an all male (but me) drumline of 25 who constantly make me feel lesser than them and leave me out,” one inspired fan replied on X/Twitter.
“Seeing this has been making me feel happy all day – even with today being an especially rough day with them. I can’t wait to find this myself,” they said.
Meanwhile, other fans praised the band’s musical ability, writing: “So cute! They’re so good live.”
In The Times’ review of Malik’s tour, Blanca Schofield claimed Malik “didn’t have many moves” to liven up his live performance and relied on “his all-female seven piece band” to “groove up the stage”.
The former One Director member was heavily praised by fans for his decision to opt to sing alongside female musicians.
“This is the hottest thing a male singer could’ve ever done btw like mad respect,” one person said.
Elsewhere on Malik’s first solo tour, the singer gave a touching tribute to his former bandmate Liam Payne, who died last month following a fall from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Malik postponed his US tour after what he described as the “heartbreaking loss” of Payne.
The UK leg of Malik’s tour was meant to begin in Edinburgh at the end of November. However, he rescheduled two of his shows in the city, citing “unforeseen circumstances”.
When the show ended at Leeds O2 Academy, a message was projected onto the screen behind the stage. reading, “Love you bro” along with Payne’s name, birth and death dates.
In the aftermath of Payne’s death, Malik said he “never got to thank” his fellow bandmate for supporting him through some of the “most difficult” times in his life.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly”, he added in a statement.
“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever,” he said.
“There is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are. Love you bro.”
