The group features 18-year-old Niall Horan of Mullingar, Country Westmeath, Republic of Ireland; 19-year-old Zayn Malik of West Lane Baildon, Bradford, U.K.; 18-year-old Liam Payne of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, U.K.; 18-year-old Harry Styles of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, U.K.; and 20-year-old Louis Tomlinson of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, U.K.

The five members tried out as solo candidates on the seventh season of “The X Factor” in 2010. After failing to qualify for the “Boys” category, the guys teamed up as a band in the “Groups” category, finishing in third place overall.

In November No Direction released its debut studio album, Up All Night, in Ireland and the United Kingdom through Sony Music. The album is due out in North America in March through Columbia Records. The band’s debut single, “What Makes You Beautiful,” won the award for best British single at the Brit Awards earlier this week. 

One Direction joins Big Time Rush on the road for a tour that begins Friday at the Akoo Theatre At Rosemont and runs through March 9 at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

Stops on the route include Detroit (Feb. 25); Toronto (Feb. 26); Mashantucket, Conn. (March 1); Fairfax, Va. (March 2); Boston (March 3); Durham, N.C. (March 6); and Nashville (March 7).

Tickets are already going on sale this weekend for One Direction’s 2013 U.K. and Ireland arena tour.

The tour begins with two shows at London’s The O2 Arena Feb. 22-23. Additional dates include Motorpoint Arena Cardiff in the U.K., March 1-2; The O2 Dublin in Ireland March 5-6; Odyssey Arena in Belfast, U.K., March 7-8; and Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K., March 24.

A presale for The O2 London gigs begins this Friday, Feb. 24. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday, Feb. 25.

For more information click here for One Direction’s website.