In a surprising turn of events, Zak Starkey—the longtime drummer for The Who and son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr—has reportedly been let go from the band after nearly three decades behind the kit.
According to The Sun, the decision came from frontman Roger Daltrey himself. Starkey was informed he wouldn’t be needed for Daltrey’s upcoming solo tour, and a source claims, “There’s no way back for him with The Who.” Daltrey is now bringing in drummer Scott Devours, who previously filled in for Starkey during a 2013 tour.
This shake-up is raising eyebrows, especially since Zak has been a staple in The Who’s sound since the mid-‘90s. He stepped into massive shoes left by the iconic Keith Moon and managed to earn fans’ respect with his dynamic, explosive playing. His departure marks the end of an era for many fans who viewed him as an unofficial full-time member of the legendary rock outfit.
Though the reason for the split hasn’t been publicly confirmed by the band, rumors suggest creative differences and scheduling conflicts might have played a part. Starkey has also been heavily involved with his own projects lately, including his record label Trojan Jamaica and his collaborations with Sharna “Sshh” Liguz.
Meanwhile, The Who are set to keep rocking on, with Pete Townshend recently confirming new material is in the works. As for Zak, he hasn’t made any public statements yet—but fans are keeping a close eye on what he’ll do next.
Stay tuned, because this story might still have a few drum rolls left.
