Zak Starkey Fired Again From The Who Amid Public Drama and Disputed Narratives
After nearly three decades with The Who, drummer Zak Starkey is officially out — again — and this time, he’s not mincing words.
The drumbeat of controversy began on April 16, when The Who initially announced Starkey’s departure after 29 years as their touring drummer. Just three days later, guitarist Pete Townshend reversed course, citing “communication issues” and reinstating Starkey with a message of unity: “We are a family.”
But the harmony didn’t last.
In a post shared on May 10, Townshend issued a fresh statement, this time drawing a line under the saga: “After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change… Scott Devours will join The Who for our final shows.”
Then came Zak Starkey’s explosive rebuttal. The drummer claimed that not only had he been fired again, but that he was also asked to lie about it.
“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit… This would be a lie,” Starkey posted on social media. “I love The Who and would never have quit.”
He described the chaotic back-and-forth as “three weeks of mayhem,” referencing the in-and-out nature of his status with the band. Starkey also thanked fans for their vocal support during the ordeal.
While the band moves ahead with Scott Devours — a veteran of Roger Daltrey’s solo tours — this public unraveling has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a celebratory farewell tour. The Who’s final tour is set to kick off this August, though the tone now carries a more bittersweet resonance.
The son of Ringo Starr, Starkey had long been praised for maintaining the legacy of original Who drummer Keith Moon without resorting to mimicry. His tenure began in 1996 and included some of the band’s most iconic late-era performances.
For a group whose legacy is tied to smashing instruments and defying expectations, this final act might be among its most dramatic.
