Zak Starkey responds to being sacked from The Who: “Surprised and saddened”
Earlier this week, it was announced that The Who had parted ways with longtime drummer Zak Starkey. Soon thereafter, rumours began circulating that the decision was made following the band’s Teenage Cancer Trust performance at the Royal Albert Hall in March, during which frontman Roger Daltrey became frustrated with Starkey’s playing.
Now, Starkey, who has been performing with The Who since their Quadrophenia tour back in 1996, has appeared to confirm those rumours. “After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night,” the drummer has shared in a statement. “But what can you do?”
Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, first collaborated with The Who in 1985, when he performed on the John Entwistle solo album The Rock. Reportedly, it was the band’s original drummer, Keith Moon, who gave Starkey his first drumkit as a child, so the drummer was a natural fit for The Who when looking for somebody to fill those colossal shoes.
In a statement given to Rolling Stone, Starkey commented on his dismissal, “I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan.” Adding, “They’ve been like family to me.”
Zak Starkey went on to provide a reason for his uncharacteristically sloppy drumming during the band’s March shows at the Royal Albert Hall, explaining, “In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Nevertheless, his sudden dismissal from the band has freed up some time for Starkey to work on his various extracurricular activities. In previous years, the drummer has worked with legendary names such as Johnny Marr, The Lightning Seeds, and Oasis, to name a few. He is also a member of Mantra of the Cosmos with Andy Bell, Shaun Ryder, Bez, Brix Smith Start, and Sharna Starkey.
“I plan to take some much-needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me,” the drummer shared. “Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
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