**Zak Starkey Exits The Who Again Ahead of Farewell Tour**
The Who’s drummer, Zak Starkey, has been dismissed from the band, marking his second departure in just a month. Guitarist Pete Townshend announced the change on Instagram, stating, “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.” This announcement comes just weeks before the legendary British rock band’s farewell tour.
In response, Starkey, who has been with the band since 1996, expressed his feelings on Instagram, asserting that he would “never have quit” and described the past few weeks as “mayhem.” He revealed, “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit to follow my other musical endeavors. Not true. I love The Who and would never have quit and let down so many amazing people who stood up for me through all this madness.”
Reports emerged in April indicating that the band had collectively decided to let Starkey go following a disagreement over their Teenage Cancer Trust shows in March. A review of one performance suggested that frontman Roger Daltrey was “frustrated” with Starkey’s drumming during certain tracks. At one point, Daltrey paused a song, stating, “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.”
Following the initial reports of his dismissal, Starkey expressed his surprise and sadness. However, just three days later, the band’s official social media accounts released a statement titled “News Flash! Who Backs Zak,” clarifying that he was not being asked to step down. Townshend noted, “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily. Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up, and he has readily agreed.”
As the band prepares for their farewell tour, the future of The Who remains uncertain without Starkey’s presence.
**FAQ**
*Why was Zak Starkey dismissed from The Who?*
Zak Starkey was dismissed from The Who following internal disagreements regarding his drumming style and performance during recent shows.
