Drumming News
In a dramatic turn of events, The Who has officially parted ways with longtime drummer Zak Starkey — for the second time in a month.
The announcement came via a May 18 Instagram post from guitarist Pete Townshend, who shared the news in a caption laid over a photo of himself in a red beanie. “After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change. A poignant time,” Townshend wrote. He confirmed that drummer Scott Devours — a familiar face from Roger Daltrey’s solo tours — would replace Starkey for the band’s upcoming farewell tour. “Please welcome him.”
Starkey, 59, son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, responded with a post of his own, accusing the band of asking him to lie about the nature of his departure. “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavors — this would be a lie,” he wrote. “I love The Who and would never have quit.”
This latest fallout appears tied to The Who’s March 30 performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where the band played “The Song Is Over” live for the first time. During the show, Daltrey struggled with his hearing and criticized the onstage sound. “I can’t hear. There’s no pitch here. I just hear drums, ‘boom boom boom,’” Daltrey said, visibly frustrated. Starkey was initially let go on April 16, only to be reinstated three days later following a band statement that described the situation as a “communication issue.”
But as of May 18, it seems Starkey is out for good.
In a joint statement, Daltrey and Townshend attempted to soften the blow, saying, “The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects.”
Starkey, however, painted a more emotional picture, alluding to the chaos of his recent firing and rehiring: “Quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me… thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out like a bleedin’ squeezebox,’” referencing the band’s 1975 hit.
Starkey, who joined The Who in 1996 and had become a fixture of the band’s post-Keith Moon era, also revealed he had suffered a serious medical emergency earlier this year involving blood clots, which has since resolved.
The Who is preparing to launch their North American farewell tour, The Song Is Over, beginning August 16 in Sunrise, Florida. The tour will run through 16 shows and marks what may be the final bow for the legendary rock band — now with Scott Devours behind the kit.
As the curtain begins to fall on one of rock’s most enduring acts, the drama surrounding Starkey’s exit adds a bittersweet note to The Who’s closing chapter.
