'Surprised And Saddened': The Who Part Ways With Longtime Drummer Zak Starkey

After reports surfaced this week that The Who had parted ways with their drummer of 29 years, Zak Starkey—unconfirmed by the band—Starkey has confirmed the news.

On Tuesday (15 April), a spokesperson for the band told The Mirror that The Who had made a “collective decision to part ways with Zak” following their four March shows at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust. The spokesperson added, “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

According to the report, another source claimed the decision was “acrimonious to say the least,” while sources alleged the band had a “few issues with the drumming… and the standard wasn’t as high as everyone wanted.”

In a Metro article, frontman Roger Daltrey reportedly complained of Starkey “overplaying” at the recent gigs, addressing the audience on 30 March: “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.”

Starkey—the son of The Beatles legend Ringo Starr—joined The Who in 1996. While the band still hasn’t addressed the reports, Starkey confirmed the news via a statement to Rolling Stone.

“I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who,” Starkey wrote. “Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘Uncle Keith [Moon]’, has been the biggest honour and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.

“In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”

He continued, “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?

“I plan to take some much-needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of ‘Domino Bones’ by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”

A replacement for Starkey hasn’t yet been announced.