{"id":112331,"date":"2025-05-18T18:14:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T18:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/112331\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T18:14:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T18:14:08","slug":"the-time-has-come-for-a-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/112331\/","title":{"rendered":"The time has come for a change"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Who<\/a>\u2019s Pete Townshend<\/a> has confirmed that drummer Zak Starkey is no longer in the band, saying \u201cthe time has come for a change\u201d.<\/p>\n

It comes just weeks after a series of contradictory reports emerged about Starkey\u2019s status with the legendary rock band \u2013 the drummer appeared to publicly confirm in April that he had been let go<\/a>, only for Townshend to later deny it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now, though, ahead of their farewell North American tour later this year<\/a>, it would seem that the final decision has been made that Starkey and the band have parted ways for good.<\/p>\n

In a post on Instagram on Sunday (May 18), the guitarist wrote: \u201cAfter 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Townshend went on to say: \u201cScott Devours, who has worked with Roger\u2019s solo band, will join The Who for our final shows. Please welcome him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starkey \u2013 who is the son of Ringo Starr<\/a> \u2013 had been the full-time sticksman for The Who since 1996, but after a series of shows at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust earlier this year<\/a>, frictions between him and the rest of the band appeared to emerge.<\/p>\n

Townshend addressed the rumours in an April post, saying there had been \u201csome communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with\u201d, but did say at the time that they had been \u201caired happily\u201d.<\/p>\n

Referring to the four Royal Albert Hall shows in March, he added that he and frontman\u00a0Roger Daltrey<\/a>\u00a0had informed Starkey that they wanted him to \u201ctighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up\u201d, which he said at the time the drummer had \u201creadily agreed\u201d to do.<\/p>\n

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He also noted that he felt Starkey \u201cmade a\u00a0few mistakes\u201d during the shows, for which he had apologised. \u201cIt\u2019s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the initial reports emerged of his departure from the band in April, Starkey said he was \u201csurprised and saddened\u201d by the news<\/a>, adding he was \u201cvery proud of my thirty years with The Who\u201d and that filling the shoes of Keith Moon had been \u201cthe biggest honour\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Who announced their \u2018The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour\u2019 earlier this month<\/a>, consisting of 16 shows across the continent in August and September. See the full list of dates here<\/a> and find any remaining tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Starkey suffered a blood clot in his leg earlier this year,\u00a0leading his supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 also including\u00a0Happy Mondays<\/a>\u2019\u00a0Shaun Ryder<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Bez<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0Oasis<\/a>\u2019\u00a0Andy Bell<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 to have to cancel a secret gig in Soho. He has since said he is \u201ccompletely healed\u201d and the health scare \u201cdoes not affect my drumming\u201d.<\/p>\n

Back in August 2024, Townshend said that although he doesn\u2019t \u201cknow what\u2019s gonna happen with The Who\u201d,\u00a0he was hoping that he and Daltrey \u201ccan find some common ground and find some way to work again\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n

Before then, he\u00a0told\u00a0NME\u00a0that he was \u201cpretty sure\u201d there would be more Who shows<\/a>, although hopes of an album were slim. \u201cThe story of the end of The Who is gonna be when either Roger or I drop dead or can\u2019t function anymore on the stage,\u201d he said. \u201cIf there was a need or a place for a Who album, could I write the songs for it within six weeks? Of course I fucking could, it\u2019s a piece of cake\u2026 The problem is I don\u2019t think Roger wants to do it again. For me it would be a joy because I love writing songs.\u201d<\/p>\n