Last month, we reported that Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) had been fired from The Who after nearly 30 years of playing with the band.
A few days later, on April 19, Pete Townshend (the band’s guitarist and primary writer) posted a statement on social media indicating that Zak was still a member of the band and would take part in the upcoming farewell tour.
However, another statement from Pete Townshend emerged this week, revealing that the gentlemen had not reached an agreement after all:
“After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best. Scott Devours, who has worked with Roger’s solo band, will join The Who for our final shows. Please welcome him.”
See the statement under https://www.instagram.com/officialthewho/
Zak Starkey of The Who performs on the first night of the band’s residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 29, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zak Starkey was quick to react:
“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours. This would be a lie. I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement… Quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox. To clarify ‘other projects’. Yes, I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7. […] As you see, there has always been time for other projects. […] None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who. I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.”
Zak Starkey‘s full statement can be found under https://www.instagram.com/therealzakstarkey/
Drummer Scott Devours has also issued a statement:
Photo source: www.instagram.com/scottdevours
“Yesterday, with a short, simple Instagram post, Pete and Roger, once again, changed my life forever. It’s hard to express the tsunami of emotions that I’m processing since that incredible news, but there are a couple of things I feel compelled to say… I’m sure there are many fans who will not accept me or anyone on that throne except for Zak. I know that this will be the case for some and I acknowledge that. For others, perhaps the jury is still out. Maybe I’ll need to let the music do the talking?
In my world, there are no bigger shoes to fill than those behind Pete and Roger. The weight of this responsibility is enormous and I am feeling every ounce of it. What I want to say to all of the fans is that I will do everything I can to honour the legacy of The Who, Zak, Kenney Jones, Simon Phillips and the memory of the great Keith Moon.
For my name to even be mentioned in a sentence like that literally sends shivers down my spine and I know I need to earn this honor. Since this is the last time Pete and Roger will be touring the US, playing the greatest songs ever written, I will be giving them every second of my time, every beat of my heart, and every drop of my sweat and blood. This is my ultimate goal.“
Read Scott Devours‘ statement under https://www.instagram.com/scottdevours/
