The circumstances surrounding the death of ex-One Direction singer Liam Payne were suspicious and possibly involved drugs, though there was no sign of a third party being involved, Argentine prosecutors said Thursday.

Payne, 31, who died on Wednesday, first shot to fame as a teenager and grappled with the pressures of global stardom.

As word of his death ricocheted around the world, fans and media swarmed the Casa Sur Hotel in the chic Palermo neighbourhood of Argentinas capital where Payne was found dead after plunging from his third-floor hotel room. All four of Paynes former One Direction bandmates issued a joint statement saying they were completely devastated.

The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever, said the letter , signed by Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson. In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say.

The Buenos Aires police said they found Paynes hotel room in complete disarray with broken objects and furniture. They found packs of clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, energy supplements and over-the-counter medications strewn about his belongings. The Argentine public prosecutor said there also appeared to be alcohol and narcotics in the room.

Forensics teams reported that a whiskey bottle, lighter and cellphone were retrieved from the buildings internal courtyard where Paynes body was found.

The prosecutor said that the autopsy showed internal bleeding and 25 traumatic injuries to his skull, limbs and abdomen, consistent with a fall. It said those injuries alone were enough to cause his death.

There were no signs of a third party being involved, it said, but described Paynes case as suspicious, citing the likelihood that the star had been taking alcohol and drugs. The requested toxicology tests could take weeks to complete.

The lack of defensive injuries on Paynes hands indicated that he may have fallen into a state of unconsciousness, the public prosecutor said, and evidence suggested Payne was going through some kind of substance abuse episode at the time.

All signs indicated that Payne was alone at the time of his death, the prosecutor added.

Medical examiners listed his cause of death as multiple trauma and internal and external bleeding. Authorities said they took statements from three hotel employees and two women who had visited Payne in his hotel room hours earlier in an effort to reconstruct Paynes final moments.

The two women had left the hotel by the time of the incident, the prosecution said.

Hard-core fans, foreign and local, showed up in droves to cry, sing and pay their respects at the hotel where Payne died. A musically inclined devotee broke into a One Direction song, jamming on his guitar as others sang along and filmed with their phones.

Several girls with tear-stained cheeks paused to sit in trance-like silence before a makeshift memorial of candles and colorful flowers spilling prolifically onto the cordoned-off street outside the hotel. Some fans taped up portraits of Payne and handwritten notes with sorrowful slogans like Always in my heart on a tree trunk.

At the citys central Obelisco some kilometers away, the usual Thursday afternoon mix of food vendors, tourists and homeless people gave way to a gathering of largely young female fans united in grief.

On Wednesday, police said Payne had jumped from the balcony of his room, without elaborating on how they came to that conclusion or whether the jump was intentional. Police said they had rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 p.m. local time that had warned of an intoxicated guest acting erratically.

A hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call recording obtained by The Associated Press saying the hotel has a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol. ... Hes destroying the entire room and, well, we need you to send someone, please.

Tributes continued pouring in Thursday from pop industry figures and fellow musicians.

Payne was known as the tousle-headed, sensible one of the quintet that went from a TV talent show to a pop phenomenon with a huge international following of swooning fans. In recent years, he had acknowledged struggling with alcoholism, saying in a YouTube video posted in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after receiving treatment.

We are heartbroken. Liam will forever live in our hearts and well remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul, his family said in a statement through Paynes representative. We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time.

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who performed with One Direction in 2014, said he was shocked and saddened. The Backstreet Boys said in a social media post that their hearts go out to Directioners around the world.

In past interviews, Payne alluded to the grueling consequences of growing up against the surreal backdrop of the entertainment industry.

I dont think you can ever deal with that. Its all a bit crazy for us to see that people get in that sort of state of mind about us and what we do, he told the AP in 2013, recounting an experience where a fan was in a state of shock upon meeting him.

One Direction announced an indefinite hiatus in 2016, and Payne -- like each of his erstwhile bandmates -- pursued a solo career, shifting toward EDM and hip-hop.

While former One Direction singer Harry Styles became a huge solo star, the others had more modest success. Paynes 2017 single Strip That Down, featuring Quavo, reached the Billboard Top 10, and stayed on the charts for several months. He put out an album LP1 in 2019, and his last release -- a single called Teardrops -- was released in March.

In 2020, to mark the 10th anniversary of One Direction, Payne shared a screenshot of a text message he sent to his father on the day he joined the group, which read: Im in a boyband.

What a journey ... I had no idea what we were in for when I sent this text to my dad years ago at this exact time the band was formed, he wrote.

Usher has been on a hot streak in the run-up to the tour announcement. He’s currently prepping the release of his ninth album “Coming Home” for Feb. 9, featuring guest appearances from Burna Boy, Latto, H.E.R., 21 Savage and more. And just two days later, he’ll take one of the biggest stages in the world as the performer at the Super Bowl Halftime show. He also recently announced a headlining stint alongside Janet Jackson and Backstreet Boys at the Lovers & Friends festival, taking place in Las Vegas on May 4.

“It’s an honor of a lifetime to finally check a Super Bowl performance off my bucket list. I can’t wait to bring the world a show unlike anything else they’ve seen from me before,” said Usher of the Halftime show. “Thank you to the fans and everyone who made this opportunity happen. I’ll see you real soon.”

Usher: Past Present Future North America Tour Dates:

Aug 20 | Washington, DC | Capital One Arena

Aug 24 | Baltimore, MD | CFG Bank Arena

Aug 27 | Boston, MA | TD Garden

Aug 30 | Philadelphia, PA | Wells Fargo Center

Sep 2 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena

Sep 3 | Toronto, ON | Scotiabank Arena

Sep 6 | Brooklyn, NY | Barclays Center

Sep 7 | Brooklyn, NY | Barclays Center

Sep 12 | Detroit, MI | Little Caesars Arena

Sep 17 | Denver, CO | Ball Arena

Sep 21 | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome

Sep 22 | Los Angeles, CA | Intuit Dome

Sep 28 | Oakland, CA | Oakland Arena

Sep 29 | Oakland, CA | Oakland Arena

Oct 4 | Dallas, TX | American Airlines Center

Oct 7 | Austin, TX | Moody Center ATX

Oct 11 | Miami, FL | Kaseya Center

Oct 12 | Miami, FL | Kaseya Center

Oct 17 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena

Oct 18 | Atlanta, GA | State Farm Arena

Oct 22 | Charlotte, NC | Spectrum Center

Oct 26 | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center

Oct 28 | Chicago, IL | United Center

Oct 29 | Chicago, IL | United Center

Swifties, mark your calendars.

Taylor Swift has added dates to the Canadian leg of her blockbuster Eras Tour – scheduling three shows in Vancouver.

The pop star will be playing BC Place on Dec. 6, 7, and 8, 2024.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of bringing Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, to Vancouver, giving fans the experience of a lifetime,” said Terrie Tweddle, spokesperson for Rogers Communications Inc., which is presenting the tour.

For those who want the chance to score tickets , registration for an online sale opened Thursday at 8 a.m. and runs through Saturday at 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, registered fans will get an email telling them if theyve been added to a list of people who get first dibs at tickets or placed on a waitlist. The actual sale will start the following day, open only to those whose access has been confirmed.

The only other Canadian city Swift is set to visit is Toronto, where she will play six shows in November of next year. 

Those shows were added earlier this year after an outcry over the fact that no Canadian dates had been scheduled. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those who posted to social media asking the star to reconsider. 

B.C. Premier David Eby, who made a plea of his own in an Instagram story last month, weighed in shortly after Swifts announcement.

Welcome to Vancouver, we’ve been waiting for you! he wrote in Twitter.

I’m convinced it was my invitation that convinced Taylor Swift to come to BC. Not the sold-out venues worldwide, not that her biggest & best fans are in our province, not that she already planned to… Nope, can’t be any of those!

The provinces tourism minister, Lana Popham, issued her own invite back in July, and reacted to Thursdays news on social media – first by tweeting a series of exclamation marks, later following it up with, This is big!

BC Place has a capacity of 54,500, meaning the all-but-inevitably sold-out shows would bring upwards of 150,000 fans to the downtown core over three days. On average, Eras Tour fans are spending U.S. $1,300 – equivalent to more than $1,700 in Canada – on tickets, merchandise, alcohol, food, parking and hotels.

And if Swifts previous stop in the Pacific Northwest is anything to go by, the impact could be literally seismic. Over the summer, a show in Seattle generated activity equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

Canadian fans who managed to score tickets for one of Taylor Swifts highly anticipated six shows in Toronto have already spent a good chunk of money. Those who live outside the Toronto area are now also budgeting for the cost of travel and accommodation in November 2024.

The Canadian Press spoke to several Swifties about how much theyre expecting to spend.

WINNING THE GOLDEN TICKET

Ashley Stewart, 24, saw Taylor Swift during her Fearless tour when it made a stop in her home province of Prince Edward Island back in 2010. This time around, she knew the pop star wouldnt be stopping anywhere east of Toronto.

Being from the Atlantic provinces, we fully knew that we would have to travel somewhere if we wanted to see her. So, we were expecting that if we wanted to go to the Eras Tour, we would have to pay to travel, the longtime Swifty said.

Stewart said getting the presale code for Swift tickets felt like a scene straight out of a movie.

I feel like were in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and I just opened my golden ticket, she told her grandmother when she opened the email with the code from Ticketmaster.

On Friday morning, Stewart secured two tickets, costing her and her best friend just over $150 each.

Since flights and hotels cant be booked so far in advance, Stewart is using available November 2023 prices to estimate that a round-trip flight from Charlottetown will cost around $500 per person, before taxes.

Taylor Swift is pictured performing the Eras tour in Seattle in July. (Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The flight will definitely be the most expensive part, she said, adding that shes still not sure about hotel prices.

If it had been this year, I definitely would not have been able to do it, but saving for 14 months is making it better.

Estimated total cost, including tickets and transportation: $650 per person

SAVING A YEAR IN ADVANCE

Augine Mendita, a 28-year-old longtime fan from Edmonton, was hoping Swift would come to her citys large stadium.

But she wasnt surprised that Toronto was chosen -- now it will be her first time visiting.

One of her friends received a Ticketmaster presale code and together they opted for the cheaper tickets. In tears of joy, they secured the maximum four tickets at $169 each.

Flying within Canada is not cheap. Its probably like cheaper to go to America even, than flying to Toronto, she said.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during night two of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Nissan Stadium on May 6 in Nashville. (John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images)

Mendita couldnt find accommodations so far in advance, but estimates flights and hotels or Airbnb rentals will cost each person around $500. She said its a good thing accommodations can at least be shared by four people.

I think its for sure worth it and also I like that we can save a year in advance, she said.

The next step for Mendita is to figure out which of her eight friends will be taking the four tickets.

Estimated total cost, including tickets, accommodations and transportation: $795 per person

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

Melissa Gunn cried four times during the process of getting Swift concert tickets for her and her 10-year-old daughter.

Im overwhelmed and theres just sheer excitement for both me and Violet because shes such a good kid. And she really deserves this, the 44-year-old from Nova Scotia said.

Gunn will be tucking away fun money from every paycheque between now and November 2024.

As soon as I can, Im going to set some Google Alerts so I can track these flight prices, and then likely talk to some of my family and friends to see if I can stay (with them) for at least a portion of the trip, she said.

Hoping to surprise her daughter with a hotel in the vicinity of the concert venue, Gunn estimates the trip will cost the pair $5,000 including tickets, hotels and food.

If this trip was solely for me, I probably would question the price of all this. But because its like a once-in-a-lifetime big thing for my daughter in her preteen years, it doesnt matter, she said.

Estimated total cost, including tickets, accommodations and transportation: $2,500 per person.

In the heart of a sprawling forest, an enchanting realm comes to life each year, captivating the hearts and minds of music enthusiasts and adventure-seekers alike.

Nestled within the serene woodlands of Rothbury, Michigan, Electric Forest has certainly earned its reputation as an emblem of unity, creativity and boundless expression.

In characteristic Insomniac Events fashion, the festivals 2023 edition is giving fans more to be eager for than ever, a sentiment that starts with its stellar lineup of electronic dance music talent. The Forest holds the promise of a wide-ranging palette of musical representation, show-stopping back-to-backs and so much more.

Here are a handful of performances to keep on your radar as you plan your Electric Forest experience. The festival returns to Rothbury from June 22-25, 2023.

APASHE

Apashe is in the midst of his highly anticipated sophomore album cycle, but theres even more to be excited about with the cinematic bass music producers upcoming appearance in The Forest.

Deeply influenced by classical music, he recently announced hes touring with a full brass brand later this year, but the EF faithful will get a sneak preview of whats in store as the ensemble heads with him to Sherwood Forest.

SOFI TUKKER

Building on their blockbuster 2022, SOFI TUKKER are owning their meteoric moment and find themselves among Electric Forests studded list of headliners. The WET TENNIS duos brand of infectious dance productions fused with uplifting, memorable and quirky hooks catapulted them into the spotlight.

This year, theyve shown an even greater depth to their songwriting and production, especially coming off of a particularly visceral collaboration alongside Kx5, Sacrifice. As the duo leap from milestone to another, excitement continues to build as to what theyll deliver next.

RUSKO B2B DIRT MONKEY

Rusko and Dirt Monkey comprise one of the most celebrated and tenured collaborative sagas in bass music. The tried-and-true combination of dubstep producers have been dotting high-profile shows and festivals for years, and now theyre taking their talents to The Forest.

The synergy between Rusko and Dirt Monkey is infectious, and theyre certainly not afraid to go bold with their approach and introduce their fans to something new.

INFECTED MUSHROOM

Theres a faction of the Electric Forest faithful who have been pulling for greater psytrance representation in Sherwood Forest, and their calls have been answered in a big way this year.

Pioneering psytrance outfit Infected Mushroom celebrated their landmark 25th anniversary with an album in 2022—though theyre showing no signs of slowing down with a continued flow of groundbreaking releases, which most recently includes Kill To Feel alongside Electric Forest headliners Ganja White Night.

ILLENIUM

ILLENIUMs new self-titled album marks one of his most pivotal works in some time, as his unique punk and electronic fusion hits mainstream appeal. The Grammy-nominated artist finds himself with a schedule increasingly consisting of stadium sets and large-scale festivals, but his appearance in The Forest should prove to be a more intimate setting for fans with all of the same explosive energy.