One Direction release surprise single and fans go WILD!

“Drag Me Down” is the first single One Direction released since Zayn Malik left the band.

One Direction performed for the first time in Indianapolis last night (July 31).

One Direction fans woke up to an unexpected treat this morning as the group dropped a new single… and promptly sent the song to the top of the iTunes chart. Fans inside the 67,000-capacity Lucas Oil Stadium cheered, especially when Harry Styles – who now bears a striking resemblance to Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, with his longer hair – let loose with his impassioned vocals at the bridge.

What do you think of One Direction’s new sound without Zayn? “It’s called Drag Me Down and I hope you love it as much as we do”, Liam Payne tweeted.

Their fifth album is set for release in November.

“Hopefully you love it, we’re proud of it”, Louis Tomlinson tweeted soon after the song was released.

Former One Direction member Zayn Malik announced this week that he’s launching his solo career.

He tweeted: “I guess I never explained why I left, it was for this moment to be given the opportunity to show you who i really am!”