"Building the Band" is a new Netflix competition show that takes a spin on the format of "Love Is Blind" and features Liam Payne before his death.

And in the opening moments of the competition series’ first episode, AJ McLean — who hosts Building the Band — paid tribute to his late friend. “When we came together to film Building the Band, we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,” the Backstreet Boys member tells the camera.

“When we came together to film Building the Band, we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend, Liam Payne,” McLean says. “Liam is a guest judge in later episodes and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his un­wavering commitment to helping others find their voice.”