The Who’s longtime drummer Zak Starkey is speaking out after he was fired from the legendary rock band.
Starkey, who was part of the band alongside singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, was fired following a “huge fall out” that originated during The Who’s two Royal Albert Hall shows last month, according to The Sun.
A review of the band’s March gig in the Metro implied that Daltrey openly bashed Starkey’s performance while on stage.
While performing “The Song Is Over,” Daltrey stopped and said, “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,’” according to the review.
Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey said in a statement to Rolling Stone Wednesday that he was “surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night.”
The drummer even said his playing has been unaffected by “a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf” that he experienced in January.
That said, Starkey does not appear to hold any resentment toward his bandmates.
“I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith [Moon]’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me,” Starkey wrote in the statement.
“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,” he continued. “Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
The rest of The Who expressed a similar sentiment for Starkey, writing in a statement sent to The Sun that read, “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
Starkey joined The Who on the Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 after he was introduced by the band’s original drummer, Keith Moon, The Guardian reported. He contributed to The Who’s most recent albums, including 2006’s “Endless Wire” and 2019’s “Who,” plus multiple live recordings.
Starkey also performed with The Who at major events like the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2010 Super Bowl.
In addition to The Who, Starkey has played with Oasis, Johnny Marr, the Lightning Seeds, Sly and Robbie and his father. He is also part of the recently formed supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos. The group includes Shaun Ryder and Bez of the Happy Mondays and Black Grape, and Andy Bell of Oasis and Ride.
The Who have not yet revealed who will replace Starkey.
