Zak Starkey, longtime drummer for The Who, has been fired from the band for a second time in just one month. The decision comes only months before their planned farewell tour across North America.
The news was confirmed in an Instagram post on Monday by the band’s guitarist Pete Townshend, who said, “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.”
Starkey, who has played with The Who since 1996 and is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, disputed the characterization of his departure. An hour after Townshend’s announcement, Starkey posted a response on social media stating, “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit… Not true. I love The Who and would never have quit.” 
He added that the past few weeks had been filled with “mayhem” and likened his situation to being “in and out and in and out… like a bleeding squeezebox.” Starkey insisted his other music projects never interfered with The Who’s schedule and maintained that he never voluntarily left the band. Read more news , click here.
Tensions reportedly began earlier this year after the band’s March performance at the Royal Albert Hall. During the final song, “The Song Is Over,” lead singer Roger Daltrey allegedly paused mid-performance to complain about the drumming, saying, “All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that.”
The fallout led to Starkey mocking Daltrey online, calling him “Toger Daktrey” and joking about being charged with “overplaying.” He was fired shortly afterward but reinstated three days later following internal discussions. Townshend had claimed at the time that “communication issues” had been resolved.
Starkey was introduced to drumming by original Who drummer Keith Moon, a family friend who gave him his first drum kit at age eight. He officially joined The Who during their 1996 Quadrophenia tour and has remained a central figure in the band for nearly three decades.
This marks the second major drummer departure in recent days. Josh Freese was also let go from the Foo Fighters last week, expressing disappointment but understanding of the band’s decision.
