The Who dismisses drummer Zak Starkey after significant disagreement: reports

The esteemed rock band The Who recently made waves with the news of their departure from long-time drummer Zak Starkey, who happens to be the son of Ringo Starr, the famous Beatles drummer. The decision to end their partnership with Starkey was reportedly made by the band’s frontman Roger Daltrey, 81, and guitarist Pete Townshend, 79, following a series of performances at Royal Albert Hall in the UK.

According to a spokesperson for The Who, the band collectively decided to part ways with Starkey after the charity shows at Royal Albert Hall, where they performed to raise funds for Daltrey’s Teenage Cancer Trust. Despite the split, the band expressed their admiration for Starkey and wished him the best in his future endeavors.

Sources close to the situation revealed that Daltrey and Townshend were not pleased with Starkey’s performance during the charity shows, citing issues with his drumming that did not meet the band’s standards. While one source described the split as “acrimonious,” another source acknowledged Starkey’s talent as a drummer and questioned the logic behind his dismissal based on just a couple of shows.

Reports suggested that one of the reasons for Starkey’s dismissal was his tendency to “overplay” during the band’s recent gigs in late March. Daltrey expressed frustration over not being able to sing properly due to the loud drumming, which impacted his ability to hear the key during performances.

Starkey, who had been The Who’s full-time drummer since 1996, had a significant presence during some of the band’s most memorable performances, including the London 2012 Olympics and the 2010 Super Bowl. The sudden departure of Starkey marked a significant change in The Who’s lineup, following the deaths of their original drummer, Keith Moon, in 1978, and bassist, John Entwistle, in 2002.

In a surprising revelation during one of their recent shows, Daltrey disclosed to the audience that he was experiencing a decline in his hearing and vision due to the natural aging process. Despite these challenges, he humorously mentioned that he was grateful to still have his voice, drawing parallels to the character Tommy from The Who’s iconic 1969 album and rock opera of the same name, who was not only deaf and blind but also mute.

The departure of Starkey from The Who, alongside Daltrey’s personal revelation, added a layer of complexity to the band’s recent performances at Royal Albert Hall. The news of these developments generated significant interest and speculation among fans and music enthusiasts, signaling a new chapter in the legendary band’s history.