Zak Starkey Says He Was “Retired,” Not Fired, from The Who

Photo credit: Stevo Rood

At this point, The Who and Zak Starkey seem determined to prolong the saga to their split. After the foundational classic rock outfit fired, rehired and refired their longtime drummer over the last month and change, Starkey has returned today with a message that brings a bit more color to the confusing uncoupling. In a post to his Instagram, the percussionist insists that he was not, in fact, fired from his long-held seat, but “retired” by the band, per frontman Roger Daltrey.

“NOISE&CONFUSION!!!! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!” Starkey disclosed. “Rog said I hadn’t been ‘fired’…I had been ‘retired’ to work n my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future….Rog said ‘Oh!’ and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been. Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say ‘The mind boggles!!!’ XXX”

Today’s post came as a postscript to the May 18 announcement from both Starkey and guitarist Pete Townshend that the former had been let go once again, just under a month after their very public split and quick reconciliation in April. In his place, Townshend named Scott Devours as the backbeat for The Who’s “The Song Is Over” North American Farewell Tour, who joins after previously playing with Roger Daltrey’s solo band and occasionally subbing in for Stakey. While it seems this lineup change will proceed, at least Starkey and his former bandmates no longer seem to be on bad terms.

Starkey, who is the son of Ringo Starr, has played with The Who since 1996. He was first fired from the group on April 17, following a benefit concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall that ended with Daltrey pausing “The Song Is Over” to tell the audience: “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.” Starkey’s message last week suggested that he was asked to make a statement that he’d quit the band, which “would be a lie,” just before the final North American tour was announced. Read up on that second split here.

Tickets for The Who’s North American Farewell Tour are on sale now. Find more information at thewho.com and read on for the complete tour dates.

The Who “The Song Is Over” North American Farewell Tour Dates:

Sat Aug 16 – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena =

Tue Aug 19 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center =

Thu Aug 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center ^

Sat Aug 23 – Atlantic City, NJ – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall +

Tue Aug 26 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park ~

Thu Aug 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater $

Sat Aug 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden $

Tue Sep 02 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage >

Thu Sep 04 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage >

Sun Sep 07 – Chicago, IL – United Center <

Tue 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center < — NEW SHOW

Wed Sep 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl ~

Fri Sep 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl 

Sun Sep 21 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre #

Tue Sep 23 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena #

Thu Sep 25 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena #

Sun Sep 28 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena !

Notes:

=with Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters

^with ZZ Ward

+with Booker T. Jones

~with The Joe Perry Project

$with Feist

>with Tom Cochrane


#with Candlebox

!with Billy Idol