Zak Starkey Clears Up Departure from The Who: Not Fired, Just Retired
In a recent Instagram post, drummer Zak Starkey, 59, addressed the confusion surrounding his departure from the iconic rock band The Who, clarifying that he was not "fired" but "retired" to focus on personal projects. bandmate Roger Daltrey told Starkey that he was free to pursue his own music endeavors, which stunned both musicians during a phone conversation last week.
Starkey, who joined The Who in 1996 and is the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, mentioned that he had been busy working on his music in Jamaica. He completed various projects with his band, Mantra Of The Cosmos, which released a new single earlier this month. "Rog said I hadn’t been fired… I had been retired," Starkey explained. The pair reportedly left their discussion "on good terms," with Starkey expressing fondness for Daltrey.
Previously, Starkey faced controversy when he was temporarily fired last month following performances during charity gigs at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend were allegedly displeased with his performance, despite Townshend later attributing the issue to "communication problems."
After being rehired, Starkey faced another exit just weeks later, as Townshend confirmed the decision on social media, stating, “After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change.” He also announced that Scott Devours would replace Starkey for The Who’s upcoming farewell tour, set to begin in August.
In a candid statement, Starkey disputed Townshend’s reasoning for his departure, emphasizing his unwavering love for The Who and the band members. He reiterated that his other projects had never impeded his commitments to the legendary rock group.
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