London, UK – The iconic rock band The Who has announced that Zak Starkey, the son of legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, will be departing from the group. Starkey, who had been The Who’s drummer since 1996, is no longer part of the band due to a disagreement that took place during a recent show at Royal Albert Hall.
A representative for The Who revealed that the decision to part ways with Starkey was made collectively by the band after the Royal Albert Hall shows. Despite the separation, the band expressed their admiration for him and wished him the best in his future endeavors.
Starkey, in response to his departure from the band, expressed his pride in his almost thirty years with The Who. He mentioned his honor in filling the shoes of his godfather and former drummer of The Who, Keith Moon, and emphasized his admiration for the band. Starkey shared that a medical emergency earlier in the year had temporarily impacted his drumming but has since fully healed. He plans to focus on personal projects, including a collaboration with Noel Gallagher and finishing his autobiography.
Reports from the UK’s Metro newspaper indicated tension during the Royal Albert Hall concert and lead singer Roger Daltrey’s struggles with Starkey’s performance. Daltrey halted the concert during the emotional track, “The Song Is Over,” expressing the difficulties he faced due to the drumming.
Starkey hinted at his departure through his Instagram Story, mentioning dissatisfaction from Daltrey with his performance. Despite attempts to reach out to The Who’s representatives for comment, no response was received.
The developments surrounding Zak Starkey’s departure from The Who highlight the complexities and challenges that can arise within long-standing musical partnerships. The band and Starkey will now be charting separate paths after nearly three decades of collaboration.