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The Who in turmoil: Zak Starkey is sacked AGAIN just weeks after being reinstated
19 May 2025, 10:21
Zak Starkey is sacked just two weeks after being reinstated in The Who.
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The Who have parted ways with Zak Starkey once again, and this time it looks like the split is permanent.
The drummer, the son of The Beatles' Ringo Starr, was axed from The Who last month following their Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at The Royal Albert Hall.
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A couple of weeks later he was back in, with Pete Townshend apologising for the confusion and blaming "communications issues" for the situation.
But the issues seem to be unresolved. Zak is out once more, and there seems to be a big difference of opinion about what exactly happened.
"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," read a joint statement from Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey on The Who's official website.
"He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world."
They added: "Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger's solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him."
Pete also posted a photo on Instagram repeating the sentiment.
For his part, Zak has completely rejected any implication that the parting is mutual or that he needs to leave The Who to focus on his other work.
As if to underline the difference of opinion, Zak posted a copy of Pete Townshend Instagram post with his own message super-imposed on top of it
"I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie," he wrote in a lengthy Instagram post.
"I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting the who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x To clarify ‘other projects’ yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7."
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He went on to list the extensive parallel projects he has taken part in over the past 30 years while he was also in The Who.
"None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them," Zak said.
"The lie is or would have been that I quit the who- i didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it."
