One Direction tops chart, adds another Rose Bowl date

Apologies to those who thought One Direction was just another flash-in-the-pan boy band. The British group is proving unstoppable.

One Direction’s third album, “Midnight Memories,” debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart this week after selling 546,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

“Midnight Memories” is the group’s third No. 1 album, making it the first to debut at No. 1 with its first three albums. 1D’s debut, “Up All Night,” and the follow-up “Take Me Home” were both released last year.

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Also, as Billboard noted in its chart analysis, One Direction is the first group since the Monkees to have its first three albums reach No. 1, a fitting piece of pop trivia given both acts were born on television to the delight of teenagers.

1D mania will reach fever pitch next year when the boys anchor a stadium tour, which includes a stop at the Rose Bowl in September.

On Wednesday Live Nation announced it had added an additional Rose Bowl date to satisfy demand. Tickets for the pair of shows – scheduled for Sept. 12-13 – go on sale Saturday.

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