The Who Parts Ways With Drummer Zak Starkey After 29 Years

London, England — Legendary rock band The Who has parted ways with drummer Zak Starkey, who had been with the group since 1996, following concerns raised about his performance during a recent charity concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

A representative for The Who stated the decision was a “collective decision” made after their performance at the Teenage Cancer Trust fundraiser last month. “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” the representative said, expressing admiration for Starkey and wishing him well in the future.

The announcement comes in the wake of reports that lead singer Roger Daltrey expressed dissatisfaction with Starkey’s drumming during the concert. In a noted moment, Daltrey paused the final song, “The Song Is Over,” stating, “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.” This moment reportedly highlighted issues that had been brewing within the band.

Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, addressed the separation in a statement, stating he is proud of his nearly 30 years with The Who. He noted, “Filling the shoes of my godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ [original drummer Keith Moon], has been the biggest honor, and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me.” Starkey also mentioned a recent health scare involving blood clots in his leg, which he said is now resolved and does not affect his performance.

Reflecting on the split, Starkey expressed his surprise at the discord regarding his performance. “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?”

In an apparent attempt to lighten the mood regarding his departure, Starkey posted a tongue-in-cheek remark on social media. In the post, he jokingly hinted at the friction within the band, writing, “Heard today from inside source that Toger Daktrey lead singer and principal songwriter of the group unhappy with Zak the drummer’s performance at the Albert Hall…”

Zak Starkey first joined The Who during their 1996 Quadrophenia tour and has contributed to numerous albums, including their most recent release, “Who,” in 2019. While Starkey has been a key part of the band’s legacy, his future plans include focusing on his newly formed group, Mantra of the Cosmos, as well as completing his autobiography.

The Who is set to return to the stage with performances scheduled in Italy this summer, amid speculation on who will take over drumming duties. The band has not yet announced Starkey’s replacement.