Songwriter Guy Chambers calls for an end to teenage boy bands following Liam Payne's tragic death

20 October 2024

Robbie Williams' close collaborator, Guy Chambers, has called for teenage boys to not be put into boy bands - following the tragic death of One Direction's Liam Payne.

Guy Chambers says anyone under the age of 18 shouldn't be in pop groups in the wake of Liam Payne's death

After former Take That star Robbie, 50, drew comparisons to his addiction battle and that of Liam, who plummeted to his death from the third-floor balcony of his hotel room in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16, aged just 31, the top songwriter says television shows like 'The X Factor', which Liam shot to fame on alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik in 2010, don't have "proper protection" in place to look after their well-being.

He told the Observer: "I do think putting a 16-year-old in an adult world like that is potentially really damaging. Robbie [Williams] experienced that, certainly.

“I have four children, so I think about this a lot. I know in Robbie’s case, with Take That, there wasn’t any proper protection set up to look after what were teenage boys. That was a long time ago, but I don’t see much sign of change. There is not much more real care taken, that I have observed, from people involved in the big television talent shows.”

Robbie was the same age as Liam, 16, when they were thrust into the limelight in their respective groups, and Guy believes only those aged 18 and over should be in a boy band.

He said: “I would suggest that people should not be in a boy band until they are 18, and the industry should stick to that, too.”

It comes after Sharon Osbourne, who was a judge on 'The X Factor', admitted she believes Liam was "let down" by the music industry.

Sharing a picture of the singer on Instagram, the 72-year-old music manager wrote: "Liam, my heart aches. We all let you down. Where was this industry when you needed them? You were just a kid when you entered one of the toughest industries in the world. Who was in your corner? Rest in peace my friend @liampayne (sic)"

Liam first auditioned for 'The X Factor' in 2008 when he was 14 and returned two years later, where he secured a place in One Direction.