Simon Cowell’s first boy band, Il Divo, have offered advice to One Direction as the classical singers launch their latest album.
The quartet - Urs Bühler, Carlos Marín, David Miller and Sébastien Izambard - were assembled in a worldwide talent search 12 years ago.
Promoting their seventh album, Amor & Pasión, they offered tips to surviving the game as 1D start a year-long hiatus.
Spaniard Marín, 47, said: “What’s happened with One Direction is something we understand. They’ve been burnt out because they’ve been everywhere.
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Dominic Lipinski/PA“They have been on the road, seeing each other, for 16 or 18 hours a day. We had that at the beginning. Now after 12 years we know what we are doing.
"The only thing I can say to them is, do whatever you believe and just project ideas and you will get it.”
Il Divo can boast album sales of 30 million, 50 number ones, and four sellout world tours.
Miller, 42, from America, said: “When we started out none of us knew what we were trying to achieve. Coming from different musical backgrounds, we needed a referee to make the final decision.
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"Simon Cowell is tremendous - ‘Guys, here’s what could be better, go back to the studio and try it again.’ After we created a distinct sound, the need for a referee became less and less.”
The group were speaking at a party in Soho Mexican restaurant La Bodega Negra. Amor & Pasión is out on November 27 and Il Divo will tour Britain next year.