Legendary rock band reportedly sacks drummer of nearly 3 decades

Zak Starkey, who has been the drummer for The Who since 1996 and is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, has been let go in a “collective decision.”

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LONDON — The song is over for Zak Starkey and The Who.

Starkey, who has been the drummer for the band since 1996 and is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, has been let go in a “collective decision,” the Guardian reports. The falling out stems from recent charity shows for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) in London.

“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” a representative for the Who said in a statement. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

No replacement drummer has been announced.

During one of the TCT shows, Who lead singer Roger Daltrey reportedly complained about how loud Starkey was playing the drums. He stopped a performance of “The Song is Over,” telling the audience that “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.”

On Saturday, Starkey hinted that he knew his time with the band was about to end with a post on social media. The post included a photo of Daltrey and him together.

“HEARD TODAY FROM INSIDE SOURCE WITHIN WHOSE HORSES NOSE THAT TOGER DAKTREY (sic) LEAD SINGER AND PRINCIPAL SONGWRITER OF THE GROUP UNHAPPY WITH ZAK THE DRUMMER’S PERFORMANCE AT THE ALBERT HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO,” the post says. “IS BRINGING FORMAL CHARGES OF OVERPLAYING AND IS LITERALLY GOING TO ZAK THE DRUMMER AND BRING ON A RESERVE FROM ‘THE BURWASH CARWASH SKIFFLE ‘N’ TICKLE GLEE CLUB HARMONY WITHOUT EMPATHY ALLSTARS’ THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY WHOSE LONG TIME MANAGER WILLYA YOUWONTYOUKNOW.”

Starkey, 59, was the longest-tenured drummer in The Who’s history. He learned to play from the band’s original drummer, Keith Moon, who gave him his first drum kit when he was a child. Moon died in 1978 and was replaced by Kenney Jones, who was with the band until 1988.

Starkey released a statement to Variety saying he wished the Who “the best.”

“I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who,” the statement says. “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.”

Starkey said he had a “serious medical emergency” in January in which he had blood clots in his right “bass drum calf,” but he said it has healed.

“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?” he said. “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. 29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”

Starkey has played drums for Oasis, but will not perform with the band during its reunion this summer. He also has performed with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as well as several other bands.

Daltrey, 81, will be touring solo in England and Scotland beginning Sunday, while The Who, whose only other surviving original member is guitarist Pete Townshend, 79, will play two shows in Italy in July.

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