Drumming News
Being the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr wasn’t always a blessing for drummer Zak Starkey. The 59-year-old, recently dismissed from his longtime role as The Who’s drummer, revealed that growing up, his famous father was brutally honest — and often unsupportive — about his drumming.
“He’d watch me and say the most cutting f****** s***,” Zak told The Sun, though he still calls Ringo “the greatest rock ’n’ roll drummer in the world.”
Starkey, who had played with The Who since 1996, was recently let go from the band, a move initially framed by Pete Townshend as a mutual parting. Zak quickly countered, saying he was fired — not retired — and that he never wanted to leave.
“There’s no grudge,” he said. “It’s f***ing music.” He recalled the band’s early wild energy, saying of Townshend, “He gobbed on my drum riser.”
Despite the confusion and conflicting statements from the band and its members, Zak says he remains on good terms with The Who and still loves everyone involved. As the band heads into its final tour, Zak moves on to focus on his own projects, including his group Mantra of the Cosmos.
Source HERE
