Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, has been The Who‘s drummer since 1996, but is apparently no more. According to UK tabloid The Mirror, the band has let Starkey go after the band’s Royal Albert Hall shows in March.
“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” read The Who’s statement to The Mirror. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.” Another anonymous source told The Mirror that “It’s a little acrimonious to say the least.”
Roger Daltrey stopped one of the Royal Albert Hall shows, 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.”
UPDATE: Starkey gave an official statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “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. They’ve been like family to me. 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. 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? 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. 29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
On Saturday, Starkey posted a picture of himself and Roger Daltrey with an all-caps note: “HEARD TODAY FROM INSIDE SOURCE WITHIN WHOSE HORSES NOSE THAT TOGER DAKTREY 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 AND BRING ON A RESERVE FROM ‘THE BURWASH CARWASH SKIFFLE ‘N’ TICKLE GLEE CLUB HARMONY WITHOUT EMPATHY ALLSTARS’ THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY WHOSE LONG TIME MANAGER WILLYA YOUWONTYOUKNOW.”
Meanwhile, Zak was odds on favorite to be behind the drum kit for this year’s Oasis reunion tour, but it turned out Joey Waronker got the job. He still plays in Mantra of the Cosmos, the band that also includes Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder and Ride/Oasis’ Andy Bell.
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