{"id":114479,"date":"2025-05-19T13:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/114479\/"},"modified":"2025-05-19T13:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T13:51:10","slug":"the-who-fire-drummer-zak-starkey-for-second-time-in-a-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/114479\/","title":{"rendered":"The Who fire drummer Zak Starkey for second time in a month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Legendary rock band The Who<\/a> have parted ways with their drummer<\/a> Zak Starkey for the second time in a month, both parties announced on Instagram Sunday.<\/p>\n

While Pete Townshend, the band\u2019s<\/a> guitarist and main songwriter, implied in his statement<\/a> that the split was mutual, Starkey claimed<\/a> he had been \u201cfired\u201d and \u201casked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endeavours.\u201d<\/p>\n

There have been \u201cweeks of mayhem of me going \u2018in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox,\u201d Starkey added.<\/p>\n

Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who has played with The Who since 1996, was first fired from the band last month, after they were reportedly unhappy with his performance during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.<\/p>\n

\"Jon<\/p>\n

Jon Button, Zak Starkey, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who are pictured performing onstage in 2022. – Rick Kern\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Just days later, however, Townshend and Starkey announced he would be rejoining the band after \u201csome communication issues, personal and private on all sides, \u2026 have been aired happily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Townshend addressed the Royal Albert Hall concert<\/a>, too, saying \u201cmaybe we didn\u2019t put enough time into sound checks giving us problems on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with. Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear why the decision to reinstate Starkey was reversed. CNN has contacted representatives for The Who for comment.<\/p>\n

Townshend said on Sunday that \u201cthe time has come for a change,\u201d adding \u201cZak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starkey retorted that he has \u201cother projects and always have,\u201d explaining that \u201cThe Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006\/7.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of this (other work) has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starkey is \u201cquite chilled about the whole affair\u201d and \u201cnow focused on a more contemporary project,\u201d a representative for Starkey told CNN, referencing his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, whose upcoming single features Oasis star Noel Gallagher.<\/p>\n

Starkey\u2019s departure comes just three months before The Who are due to embark on their farewell North American tour, almost 60 years after the band began performing there.<\/p>\n

Of the band\u2019s four founding members, only Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey are still alive. Bass guitarist John Entwhistle died in 2002, while drummer Keith Moon, who was Starkey\u2019s godfather, died in 1978.<\/p>\n

Since then, Starkey has \u201cpretty much become the \u2018unofficial\u2019 official drummer for The Who,\u201d according to the band\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Scott Devours will take Starkey\u2019s place on the upcoming tour, Townshend announced. Devours has played with Daltrey at his solo gigs and filled in for Starkey as The Who drummer in the past.<\/p>\n

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