The Who play first show with new drummer Scott Devours
The Who began their farewell tour on July 20th in Italy, marking their first show with drummer Scott Devours following the exit of Zak Starkey.
The show took place at the Anfiteatro Camerini in Piazzola sul Brenta, and is one of two dates they have planned in Italy this week. The rock icons will also perform at the Parco Della Musica in Milan on July 22nd, before frontman Roger Daltrey plays a series of solo shows before The Who kick off the North American leg of their tour.
At the Anfiteatro Camerini, The Who performed a 20-song set, which saw Daltrey and Pete Townshend perform the band’s biggest hits, including ‘Baba O’Riley’, ‘Pinball Wizard’, ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Substitute’, ‘My Generation’, and ‘I Can’t Explain’.
Devours has a long history with Daltrey and has performed as part of the singer’s solo band since 2009. He also previously deputised for Zak Starkey on drums when the former Who member was ruled out of shows due to injuries.
Starkey’s complicated exit from the band, who he joined in 1996, is linked to the band’s performance at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year at a charity show for the Teenage Cancer Trust. The longstanding member was initially fired, before being rehired, and eventually, fired again within a matter of weeks.
Upon being announced as the band’s drummer, Devours graciously said in a statement published on Instagram: “Yesterday, with a short, simple Instagram post, Pete and Roger, once again, changed my life forever.”
Devours also addressed Starkey’s departure, writing, “I understand and accept the reality that there are many lifelong Who fans who are absolutely gutted by the news that Zak is no longer on the throne behind The Who. As a huge fan myself, there is a part of me that’s processing this loss with a heavy heart too.”
Starkey’s messy exit was made more bizarre when the drummer claimed he was asked to say he’d quit the band due to other musical projects, writing on Instagram: “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie.”
Townshend later admitted the situation had been handled poorly, saying “it’s been a mess” and took responsibility, stating, “It’s a decision Roger and I tried to make together, but it kind of got out of hand.”
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