AJ McLean teases Liam Payne's unique final project Building the Band
AJ McLean says that Liam Payne's final project 'Building the Band' is "unlike anything you have ever seen before". The Backstreet Boys singer unveiled a first look at the new Netflix series - which was the late One Direction singer's last TV work before his tragic death aged 31 last October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina - at the streamer's Tudum event on Saturday (31.05.25) and promised viewers that the show is unique. AJ, 47, said: "Today's most talented singers in the world will audition for each other and choose their own bandmates before ever seeing them. "Our judge and mentor Nicole Scherzinger, and guest judges Kelly Rowland and the late Liam Payne, are from some of the biggest bands of all time. This show is all about one word: chemistry. And believe me: in a band, you really need some good chemistry." 'Building the Band' was given the go ahead to air on Netflix earlier this year after officials at the streaming giant consulted with Liam's grieving relatives, although it is claimed that his loved ones were "surprised" by the announcement. A source told The Sun newspaper: "They spoke with Liam's family as they didn't want to progress the project without taking their feelings into consideration. "The family got the sense that this was a celebration of Liam, an image of positivity. He was doing what he did best as a true boyband star. "But they hadn't given it a final stamp of approval and as far as they were concerned were still discussing what the show would look like. So they were surprised by the announcement." Liam had completed filming for the series - which features singers looking to build a band despite being kept in separate booths so they can't see each other - several months before his death. A synopsis of the series explains: "All they [the contestants] have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit ... with incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal - to find the next great music band - the stage is set for an unforgettable experience."
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The central defender Lauturo Di Lollo had been asked ahead of this tournament how he planned to cope with Kane, and replied 'I'm going to kill him'. It was meant as a joke. Probably. But there was an excellent opportunity to test this from kick-off as Di Lollo started in central defence right up against his intended victim. The opening hour was something of a controlled suffocation as Bayern kept the ball and took the lead. But Boca dragged their way back into this game, blocking shots, hurling themselves into contact and equalising in the second half, before finding ultimately that Bayern just had too much quality in the clinches. This was a rare 9pm kick off, a much more sensible piece of scheduling in South Florida, by which time the heat has generally transitioned from Nordic sauna on the surface of the planet Venus levels to merely very hot and humid. 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The Hard Rock was a Friday night sell-out from the start, packed to the far reaches of the upper tiers beneath the vast steel lattice roof. The ludicrous WWE-style player walk-out once again ate up four minutes of everyone's life that they'll never get back. This must be stopped. Nobody anywhere in the world needs to hear the words 'KONRAD LAIMER!' in a throaty scream across the stadium PA, while an embarrassed looking Konrad Laimer walks out slowly across a piece of grass towards a lineup of bored-looking teammates. Bayern kicked off with Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman behind Kane, and the familiar Goretzka-Kimmich double pivot in midfield. Jonathan Tah, a new addition in central defence, also started here, aged 29 and a well-worn Bundesliga figure. Advertisement Not much happened for a while as Bayern kept the ball comfortably. And Kane opened the scoring on 18 minutes, a nice finish after a sightly heavy first touch, easing the ball into the bottom corner, off the studs of his left boot. The ball had fallen to him from a deflection off Coman as he challenged for a cross. Kane was unspectacularly in the right place. Thomas Tuchel was watching all this from the plush Fifa seats. Kane scoring in America, late June, South American defence, full house. This felt like good optics, a vibe, something packed away. Bayern had dominated every metric to that point, with 74% possession, 101 passes to 29, three shots and two corners to zero and zero. This has been the way Boca have played here, an attacking plan based on swift collective breaks. It involves a lot of waiting, a lot of singing in the stands while the opposition pass across the face of a low, muscular block. Boca had their first shot, a veering drive from a free-kick by Kevin Zenon that Manuel Neuer double-fisted away in the Continental Style. And Neuer made a very good save moments later, batting away with his left hand as Zenon shot again from a similar angle. Advertisement It was a good game by now. Luis Advincula was booked for the latest in a series of conga-style hip-grabs on Coman as he spun away. Kane was taken out by Costa, left crumpled and clutching his ankle after a hip swivelling full body block. Boca began to emerge from their defensive crouch after half-time, although this coincided with a little extra space at the other end. Kane shot just over after good work from Gnabry. Olise, who played inside his own portable pocket of air all night, eased about radiating menace. Related: Club World Cup didn't start the fire – it didn't light it but we'll try to fight it | Max Rushden But it was Boca who began to wrench at the throttle. And they equalised on 67 minutes with an excellent goal from Miguel Merentiel. It came from a break close to the halfway line. A fine through pass from Alan Velasco inside Jonathan Tah left Rentier with space in front of him. Tah had no chance, treading through heavy water as Merentiel sniped in on goal then lifted his finish past Neuer. Advertisement The Hard Rock erupted, the bodies tumbling in the stands, drinks thrown, scarves twirled, a vast roar barrelling from one Boca end to the other Boca end. But it was Bayern who managed to rev up through the gears again, despite the worrying sight of Jamal Musiala, a second half sub, limping off injured once again. With seven minutes left Olise scored the winner, shooting low into the corner after a really smart little touch from Kane, finding just enough order out of a scramble and a press of bodies to nudge the ball back into Olise's path. So Bayern can rest and tend to their bruises for the final group game against Porto. The amateurs of Auckland will be bracing themselves for next Tuesday night at Geodis Park, Tennessee.
