Louis Tomlinson

1.1. Early life and education

Tomlinson was born as Louis Troy Austin on 24 December 1991, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. His parents, Johannah Poulston and Troy Austin, separated when he was an infant. He later adopted the surname of his stepfather, Mark Tomlinson, legally changing his name to Louis William Tomlinson. He also has a slight Belgian ancestry through his great-great-grandparents.

He attended The Hayfield School and later Hall Cross School in Doncaster. He faced academic setbacks, failing his first year of A-levels at Hayfield School, which led him to restart his A-levels at Hall Cross. During his time at Hall Cross, Tomlinson actively participated in several musical productions. Taking on the lead role of Danny Zuko in the school's musical production of Grease significantly motivated him to audition for The X Factor. Before pursuing a music career, he held various jobs, including working at a Vue cinema and as a waiter in the hospitality suites at Doncaster Rovers football stadium.

1.2. Family background

Tomlinson was raised with four younger half-sisters from his mother's marriage to Mark Tomlinson: Charlotte, Félicité (who passed away in 2019), and twins Phoebe and Daisy. He also has three other half-siblings: a younger paternal half-sister named Georgia, and fraternal twins Doris and Ernest (born in 2014) from his mother's marriage to Dan Deakin. He remains estranged from his biological father.

2.1. Early acting career

Tomlinson's initial foray into the entertainment industry was through acting. Alongside two of his siblings, he secured extra roles in the television drama Fat Friends. On the set of this show, he met actor James Corden, who would later become a close friend. Following his appearance in Fat Friends, Tomlinson pursued formal acting training at a school in Barnsley. He subsequently obtained small parts in an ITV drama film titled If I Had You and in the BBC series Waterloo Road.

2.2. The X Factor and One Direction

Tomlinson's audition for The X Factor proved to be a pivotal moment, leading to the formation of One Direction and their unprecedented ascent to global superstardom, marked by numerous record-breaking achievements, extensive tours, and a subsequent hiatus.

2.2.1. The X Factor audition and group formation

In 2009, Louis Tomlinson first auditioned for The X Factor but did not progress past the producer's audition stage. Undeterred, he returned the following year, auditioning for the seventh series of the competition in 2010. During his audition, he initially sang "Elvis Ain't Dead" by Scouting for Girls, and upon a request from judge Simon Cowell, he performed "Hey There Delilah" by the Plain White T's, earning three "yes" votes to advance to bootcamp.

Although he failed to qualify for the "Boys" category at the final bootcamp stage held at Wembley Arena in July 2010, a suggestion from guest judge Nicole Scherzinger led to a pivotal decision. Tomlinson, along with four other rejected solo contestants - Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Harry Styles - were brought together to form a five-piece boy band. This newly formed group, soon to be named One Direction, then qualified for the "Groups" category, with Simon Cowell as their mentor. For their qualifying performance at the judges' houses and their first song as a group, One Direction sang an acoustic version of "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia. Cowell later noted that their confident, fun, and fearless performance convinced him of their potential, leading him to put them through to the live shows. The group quickly gained popularity in the UK and ultimately finished in third place in the competition. Following their success, One Direction was signed by Simon Cowell to a reported 2.00 M GBP record contract with Syco Music.

2.2.3. Albums, tours, and global success

Following the success of their debut album, One Direction embarked on the Up All Night Tour, which quickly sold out tickets in minutes in many locations. In September 2012, they released "Live While We're Young", the lead single from their second album. Another single, "Little Things", became the band's second number one single in the UK. Their second album, Take Me Home, was released in November 2012 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

On 25 November 2013, One Direction released Midnight Memories, their third studio album. This album became the best-selling album worldwide in 2013, selling 4 million copies globally. Its lead single, "Best Song Ever", remains their highest-charting single in the US to date. In April 2014, the band commenced their third headlining concert tour, the Where We Are Tour, which was also their first all-stadium tour. Tickets for this tour sold out rapidly, leading to additional shows being added due to "overwhelming demand." The tour encompassed 69 shows across Europe, North America, and South America, drawing an average of 49,848 fans per show and grossing over 290.00 M USD. It was the highest-grossing tour of 2014, the 15th highest-grossing concert tour of all time, and the highest-grossing tour by a vocal group.

In November 2014, One Direction released their fourth album, Four, which notably was the last album to feature Zayn Malik. Singles from this album, "Steal My Girl" and "Night Changes", both achieved platinum status. Four sold 387,000 copies in its first week in the United States, marking the second-largest debut of the year. One Direction made Billboard 200 chart history by becoming the only group in the chart's 58-year history to have their first four albums debut at number one. To support the album, they embarked on the On the Road Again Tour, which grossed over 200.00 M USD. In November 2015, One Direction's fifth album, Made in the A.M., was released, reaching number one in multiple countries, including the UK, and peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200.

2.3. Solo career

Following One Direction's hiatus, Tomlinson transitioned into a solo artist, steadily building his individual discography and performing for a global audience.

2.3.2. Walls (Debut album)

In February 2019, it was announced that Tomlinson had signed with the newly relaunched Arista Records. His first release under this label was "Two of Us", which debuted on 7 March 2019. This song is a heartfelt tribute to his late mother. On 5 September 2019, Tomlinson released "Kill My Mind", a single described as a 90s-inspired indie pop record that received generally positive reviews. The music video for "Kill My Mind" was directed by Charlie Lightening and released on 13 September.

On 23 October 2019, Tomlinson released "We Made It", the third single from his upcoming debut album. The same day, he announced his first solo tour, the Louis Tomlinson World Tour, planned to span over five months and visit 20 countries. He also revealed that his debut album would be titled Walls and was scheduled for release on 31 January 2020. On 23 November, "Don't Let It Break Your Heart" was released as the fourth single from the album, followed by the title track, "Walls", on 17 January, serving as the fifth and final single. The music video for "Walls" was filmed in Morocco and released on 20 January.

His debut solo album, Walls, was released on 31 January 2020. It debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart and at number nine on the Billboard 200 chart with 35,000 sales in the US. This made Walls the first new album for Arista Records in almost nine years to reach the top 10 on the chart. Tomlinson's initial plans for the Louis Tomlinson World Tour in 2020 were largely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour eventually resumed in February 2022 in Dallas and concluded in September of that year, playing a total of 81 shows across various countries.

In July 2020, Tomlinson announced his departure from Syco Music and indicated that he had begun writing his next album. On 12 December 2020, he held a digital concert titled "Live From London", which sold over 160,000 tickets. This event broke a Guinness World Record for being the most livestreamed concert by a male solo artist of the year and the third overall. Proceeds from this concert were donated to various charities, including FareShare, Crew Nation, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, Stagehand, and to support tour crew members facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2.3.4. Solo tours

Louis Tomlinson's second world tour, the Faith in the Future World Tour, began in North America in May 2023. While Asian concert dates were initially announced for mid to late April, they were subsequently cancelled in early April 2023, citing "unforeseen circumstances." The tour continued through North America and Europe in 2023 and extended to Asia, Australia, and Latin America in 2024. In November 2023, shortly after performing at The O2 Arena in London, Tomlinson was nominated for the Live Act Award at the inaugural Rolling Stone UK Awards, earning critical acclaim for his performances. During the Latin America leg of the tour, Tomlinson became the first male solo artist to headline Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. He also held a charity livestream of this event, titled For Every Question Why, with all proceeds benefiting War Child UK.

In April 2024, Tomlinson released a surprise album titled Live, which features live performances from both his Louis Tomlinson World Tour and the Faith in the Future World Tour. The album comprises recordings from 15 different shows across 15 cities. Following the conclusion of his second tour, Tomlinson embarked on a summer 2024 festival circuit, performing at events such as the Main Square Festival, Pinkpop, Ruisrock, Santander Music, Untold Festival, Sziget Festival, Frequency Festival, Victorious Festival, and Lollapalooza Berlin. In 2024, Tomlinson was honored with the "Artist of the Year" award at the inaugural Northern Music Awards. Later that year, he was featured in the Adidas documentary Under The Tongue, which explores the origins of the Adidas Predator football boot.

2.4. Television appearances

Tomlinson has made several notable appearances on television outside of his musical performances. In 2015, he returned to The X Factor during its twelfth series as a guest judge, assisting Simon Cowell with decisions in the "Over 26s" category during the judges' houses stage. His interest in becoming a permanent X Factor judge was noted during One Direction's hiatus. The following year, he appeared as a guest judge on the eleventh season of America's Got Talent. In July 2018, it was announced that Tomlinson would join the fifteenth series of The X Factor as a permanent judge, alongside Cowell, Robbie Williams, and Ayda Field. He mentored the "Boys" category, guiding contestants such as Dalton Harris, Armstrong Martins, Brendan Murray, and Anthony Russell to the live shows. His mentee, Dalton Harris, ultimately won the competition, making Tomlinson the first former contestant of the show to become a winning mentor.

3.1. Producing and record label

In 2015, Tomlinson ventured into music production by creating his own record label, Triple Strings Ltd, which operated as an imprint under his then-label, Syco Music. He reportedly collaborated with Simon Cowell to form a girl band, even holding auditions in 2015, a detail he confirmed in a 2017 interview with Noisey.

Following his departure from Syco Music in 2020, Tomlinson expressed a renewed interest in establishing his own musical management company and fully owning a record label. He noted that his previous imprint, Triple Strings Ltd, did not fully realize his ambitions for nurturing prospective artists. As of December 2022, Triple Strings Ltd remained a dormant company. In 2023, under his new venture 78 Productions, Tomlinson co-invested with Strap Originals in English singer Andrew Cushin's debut album, Waiting for the Rain. Cushin had previously supported Tomlinson on the North American and European legs of his Faith in the Future World Tour.

3.2. The Away From Home Festival

Louis Tomlinson is the founder and curator of the Away From Home Festival, an indie music festival. He announced the first edition in July 2021, stating his intention to perform for free to celebrate the return of live music after the COVID-19 shutdown. The inaugural festival took place on 30 August 2021 at Crystal Palace Bowl in London, featuring bands such as The Snuts and Bilk.

The second annual edition of the festival was held on 30 August 2022, at Marenostrum Music Castle Park in Málaga, on the Costa del Sol, and included artists like The Vaccines, Sun Room, STONE, and Voodoos. This event attracted 17,000 fans and garnered positive reviews. The third Away From Home Festival took place on 19 August 2023, in Camaiore, Italy, with support from artists such as Blossoms, The Cribs, Andrew Cushin, and HotWax. In April 2024, the fourth Away From Home Festival marked its first occurrence outside Europe, held in Mérida, Mexico, and featuring performances by Kevin Kaarl, DMA's, and Dylan.

3.3. 28 (brand)

On 28 August 2023, Louis Tomlinson officially launched his "28" streetwear-inspired unisex clothing line, also known as 28 Clothing and 28 Official Programme (28OP). Tomlinson described the creation of this brand as fulfilling a "creative itch that [he] wanted to scratch." He emphasized that the brand is distinct from his personal merchandise, designed to stand "on its own two feet without his face attached." Tomlinson's interest in fashion dates back to his childhood, and he had contemplated creating a brand for over a decade. The branding of "28" notably incorporates the White Rose of York, symbolizing his origins from Yorkshire. In July 2023, actor Kit Connor was seen wearing a 28 piece in a photoshoot for The Guardian.

4.1. Songwriting and influences

Tomlinson has been widely praised for his lyricism and songwriting abilities. He holds the most writing credits within One Direction among all the band members, having contributed to the majority of songs on their albums Midnight Memories, Four, and Made in the A.M., totaling 38 songs across the band's discography. Savan Kotecha, a prominent songwriter and producer, has credited Tomlinson with "leading the charge" in steering One Direction's musical direction towards a more mature sound.

His early musical influences and favorite artists included Robbie Williams, The Fray, Green Day, and Ed Sheeran. He expressed a long-standing admiration for Robbie Williams, noting his "cheeky" persona and "unbelievable" performances. He also described Ed Sheeran as "phenomenal." For his solo music, Tomlinson's lyrical approach has been notably inspired by bands like Arctic Monkeys and Oasis. He articulated a desire to move away from "Hollywood-esque songs" about "unfathomable crazy love stories," preferring the effortless, real, and honest storytelling found in the music of artists from his native North England. He aimed to integrate this "conversational honesty into pop" music. Other artists that have influenced and inspired him include Sam Fender, Amy Winehouse, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and James.

4.2. Musical style

Tomlinson's solo musical style has evolved since his debut. His initial singles varied in genre, starting with EDM and synthpop before transitioning towards a more rock-oriented sound. His music has been broadly characterized as indie rock, soft rock, indie pop, Britpop, pop punk, pop rock, pop, as well as incorporating elements of punk rock and punk-funk. Upon the release of "Kill My Mind," MTV News commented that he sounded "like the Britpop star he was born to be."

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Tomlinson found inspiration in a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert film, which influenced the creation of his second album, Faith in the Future. This album was specifically conceived with live performances in mind. Saskia Postema of Euphoria magazine described Faith in the Future as "more confident and energetic," showcasing a balance between "rock-heavy and even some synth/funk-inspired tracks," citing "Written All Over Your Face" as an example. For this album, Tomlinson also actively involved more artists than professional songwriters in the creative process. Johnny Took of DMA's praised Tomlinson's "great ear for pop music - and music in general," noting that Tomlinson had sought advice from DMA's for their album The Glow.

Lyrically, while his debut album was heavily rooted in his personal experiences, Faith in the Future delves more into conceptual, metaphorical, and creative storytelling. However, it still maintains emotional honesty and explores broader ideas of love beyond just romance. The album touches on themes such as grief, emotional pain, and periods of difficulty and uncertainty, but Tomlinson consciously crafted the lyrics with an underlying sense of optimism. He told Billboard that "even when it gets a little bit darker emotionally, there is that hope at the end of it."

5.1. Playing career

Louis Tomlinson has a long-standing passion for football. His previous experience included playing for and managing his own pub team called Three Horseshoes. In 2013, after impressing in a charity game held at Keepmoat Stadium in his hometown of Doncaster to raise funds for the Bluebell Wood Charity, he was offered a non-contract deal by professional football club Doncaster Rovers. This arrangement allowed him to join the club as a development player and participate in reserve games, fitting around his music commitments with One Direction. He was assigned the squad number 28 for the 2013-14 season. Tomlinson expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating, "It's unbelievable really. I have been a massive football fan for a long time and growing up in Doncaster, I've been to plenty of games at the Keepmoat. To be part of the club is incredible."

On 3 September 2013, it was announced that Tomlinson would make his debut for Doncaster's Reserve team in a Central League fixture against the Scunthorpe United reserve team on 18 September. Doncaster even set up a special ticket line for this reserve game due to the anticipated interest. However, on 8 September, Tomlinson played for Celtic in another charity match benefiting Stiliyan Petrov. During this game, he sustained an injury following a tackle by Aston Villa and England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, requiring immediate substitution. This tackle led to Agbonlahor receiving abuse from One Direction fans on Twitter, prompting an apology from the player. As a result of these injuries, Tomlinson was forced to withdraw from the Scunthorpe match, relegating him to the bench.

His rescheduled debut for Doncaster's reserve side in the Central League occurred on 26 February 2014, as a 65th-minute substitute in a 0-0 match against Rotherham United. This charity match, also in aid of Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, was notably attended by a crowd exceeding 4,000 people. Tomlinson later participated in bandmate Niall Horan's Charity Football Challenge on 26 May 2014, held at the King Power Stadium. He also returned to Celtic Park on 7 September 2014, to play in the MAESTRIO Charity Match, joining Rio Ferdinand's All-Stars against Paul McStay's Maestros. This match, attended by approximately 25,000 spectators, raised proceeds for several charities including UNICEF, War Child, the Celtic Foundation, and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

5.2. Club ownership and involvement

On 19 June 2014, Louis Tomlinson and former chairman John Ryan confirmed their joint takeover as owners of Doncaster Rovers Football Club. However, it was later announced that the takeover bid ultimately fell through. Despite this, Tomlinson continues to maintain involvement with the club, demonstrating his ongoing dedication to his hometown team.

7.1. Relationships and family

Tomlinson was in a relationship with Eleanor Calder from late 2011 to March 2015. They reunited in early 2017 but ultimately separated again in 2022, a split that was publicly announced in January 2023. In July 2015, news emerged that Tomlinson was expecting a child with American stylist Briana Jungwirth. He publicly confirmed these reports on Good Morning America on 4 August 2015. Their son, Freddie Reign Tomlinson, was born on 21 January 2016. Following his birth, there was widespread viral speculation that he had been named Conchobar, a traditional Irish name, after Tomlinson allegedly lost a bet with Irish bandmate Niall Horan.

From November 2015 to December 2016, Tomlinson was in a relationship with American actress Danielle Campbell. Despite persistent rumors and speculation from conspiracy theorists known as "Larries" about a romantic relationship between him and bandmate Harry Styles, Tomlinson has consistently denied these claims. He currently resides in London. He previously owned a house in Hollywood Hills, which he purchased in 2016 and sold for 6.40 M USD in 2020.

7.2. Legal issues

On 4 March 2017, Louis Tomlinson was involved in an altercation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) that led to his detention by airport security. The incident involved a paparazzo and aggressive fans who were waiting for Tomlinson. He was initially charged with a misdemeanor and posted bail of 20.00 K USD shortly after. By April 2017, the matter was reportedly resolved, and the charges against Tomlinson were dropped. His lawyer, Martin Singer, stated that "The paparazzi provoked and caused the altercation with Louis at the airport this morning. This is not the first or the last time that a paparazzi has created an altercation with a celebrity." In November 2022, Tomlinson sustained a broken upper right arm in a fall following a performance in New York. He underwent surgery for the injury, and his scheduled in-person promotional events for that month were rescheduled for December.

7.3. Family tragedies

Tomlinson has experienced profound personal losses. In December 2016, his mother, Johannah Deakin, passed away at the age of 43 after battling leukaemia. Just over two years later, in March 2019, his sister Félicité died at the age of 18 from an accidental drug overdose. These tragedies have had a significant impact on his life and career, as he has openly acknowledged in subsequent interviews.

9.1. Film

9.2. Television