The Who ‘Back Zak’ as bust-up between Starkey, Daltrey and Townshend resolved

The Who guitarist Pete Townshend has confirmed Zak Starkey will remain an active member of the band, following rumours of his sacking.

Starkey’s position as the long-serving drummer in the legendary rock group was confirmed by Townshend in a post made earlier today (April 19). There had been rumours that Ringo Starr’s son had been booted from the band following apparent issues between Starkey and frontman Roger Daltrey, which came to a head at a Teenage Cancer Trust gig. Crossed wires and “too much oxygen” reaching the rumours appear to have suggested Starkey was finished with the band. But Townshend has since confirmed Starkey will remain with the band and not be replaced by fellow drummer Scott Devours.

In a statement published to Twitter, Townshend wrote: “News Flash! Who Backs Zak! He’s not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.

“Roger and I 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. Our Teenage Cancer Trust 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! Maybe we didn’t put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage. The sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with.

“Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. 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. As for Roger, fans can enjoy his forthcoming solo shows with his fabulous drummer, Scott Devours, who it was rumoured might replace Zak in The Who and has always been supportive of the band. I owe Scott an apology for not crushing that rumour before it spread. He has been hurt by this. I promise to buy him a very long drink and give him a hug.”

Starkey wrote on social media: “V grateful to be a part of The Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.” Starkey, 59, has been The Who’s drummer since 1996. Starkey has been drumming from an early age, with his father, Ringo Starr, friends with The Who’s former drummer, Keith Moon. Moon gifted Starkey a drum set when he was eight, and by 1985, Starkey was a regular touring member of his father’s All-Star band.

A description of Starkey’s involvement with The Who can be found on their website. It reads: “Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, is the rightful heir to the drum seat of his godfather Keith Moon. Zak’s father only ever gave him one drum lesson and discouraged him from a career in rock’n’roll but it was Zak’s Uncle Keith who bought him his first drum kit at the age of eight. 

“In 1984 he recorded Under A Raging Moon with Roger Daltrey. Gigs then followed with The Icicle Works, Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, Bobby Womack, Holly Johnson and Joe Walsh and recording with John Entwistle on his solo album The Rock.

“Zak has pretty much become the ‘unofficial’ official drummer for The Who, performing with them on their 2007/8 tour, the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, FL, the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2013 Quadrophenia & More tour, The Who Hits 50! tour, The Who 2017 tour and the 2019 Moving On! tour.”