Zak Starkey Fired From The Who After Onstage Disagreement

UPDATE — 4/20/25, 3:54 p.m. ET: The Who lead guitarist Pete Townsend announced in a statement via the band’s official website on Saturday, April 19, that Zak Starkey has not left the band and is, in fact, still part of the group.

“He’s not being asked to step down from The Who,” Townsend, 79, said. “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.”

Townsend added that he and The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey “would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed.”

“I take responsibility for some of the confusion,” Townsend continued. “Our TCT shows at the Royal Albert Hall were a little tricky for me. I thought that four and a half weeks would be enough time to recover completely from having a complete knee replacement. (Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?) Wrong!”

He added, “Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer. We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It’s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.”

UPDATE — 4/17/25, 2:18 p.m. ET: Starkey is speaking out after his apparent firing from The Who.

“I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who,” Starkey said in a statement to People on Wednesday, April 16. “Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘Uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.”

Ringo Starr’s son confirmed he suffered a “serious medical emergency” in January. With time, he has been able to heal and the medical scare “does not affect my drumming or running.”

“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, but what can you do?” he shared. “I plan to take some much needed time off with my family. … 29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”

Original story: 

English rock band The Who has reportedly fired its drummer, Zak Starkey, after an onstage incident during a show in March at Royal Albert Hall in London.

“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” a representative for the band said in a statement to The Guardian on Wednesday, April 16. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

The incident reportedly happened while the band was playing the final song of its set, “The Song Is Over.” Band frontman Roger Daltrey appeared to abruptly stop the performance, telling the crowd, “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.”

Starkey, 59, is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife, Maureen Starkey. He appeared to pre-empt the announcement of his own dismissal with a statement via Instagram shared on Saturday, April 12.

“Heard today from inside source that Toger Daktrey [sic] lead singer and principal songwriter of the group unhappy with Zak the drummer’s performance at the Albert Hall a few weeks ago is bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer,” he wrote in all caps beside a photo of him and Daltrey, 81.

Starkey’s run with The Who began in 1996 when he joined the group on its Quadrophenia Tour, following in the footsteps of longtime family friend and The Who’s original drummer, Keith Moon. He is also a member of the group Mantra of the Cosmos and has previously played with Oasis, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller and Graham Coxon.

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Starkey made headlines earlier this year when he canceled a Mantra of the Cosmos performance after he developed a blood clot in his leg. After doctors recommended he take blood thinners and rest for two weeks so the clot would not worsen, the group axed the show just hours before it was scheduled to begin.

Days later, the drummer took to Instagram to thank his fans for their support.

“Thanks everyone for sending amazing amount of lovely get well wishes -thank u all- am on the mend and we have sold out of lt edition singles – we will try to got some more pressed with slightly different something about them asap,” he wrote in the January 27 post.