Rock legends The Who have parted ways with Zak Starkey after nearly 30 years.
Zak Starkey performing with The Who at Caesars Palace on July 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada (photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
On Tuesday, the band’s representative said: “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
The aforementioned performances were related to the Teenage Cancer Trust, which The Who singer Roger Daltrey is involved with. According to metro.co.uk, the artist was said to have complained about the drummer playing too loudly during one of the concerts after the performance of the song “The Song Is Over”, saying: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys. It was going so well… I can sing in any f***ing key you want, but I need to hear which one.”
Zak Starkey reacted with a biting post on his Instagram account:
“Heard today from inside source that Toger Daktrey [!] lead singer and principal songwriter of the group unhappy with Zak the drummer’s performance at the Albert Hall a few weeks ago is bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer.”
Yesterday, Starkey commented on the situation for Rolling Stone magazine in a more serious tone:
“I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me. After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do? Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
Zak Starkey and Roger Daltrey live with The Who in 2022 (photo credit: Tim Mosenfelder / WireImage I Getty Images)
Zak Starkey joined The Who in 1996 and has also worked with such artists as Oasis, Johnny Marr, The Icycle Works, The Lightning Seeds, Spencer Davis Group, John Entwistle, Adrian Smith, Mick Jones (The Clash), The Silver Machine, Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band. Starkey is the son of Ringo Starr (The Beatles) and godson of The Who’s original drummer Keith Moon, who died in 1978, and from whom he received his first drum kit as a gift.
