Zak Starkey, the drummer of English rock band The Who, has departed the band for a second time, just one month after initially being cut from the group.
While earlier reports stated that Starkey was fired, he has now taken to Instagram to say that he has retired.
Claiming to have had a phone call with lead singer Roger Daltrey, Starkey wrote: “I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!
“Rog said I hadn’t been ‘fired’…I had been ‘retired’ to work on my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly eight weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra of the Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course (usually 5/6 weeks).
“I was completely available for the foreseeable future….Rog said ‘Oh!’ and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been.”
Whatever the scenario, it has been confirmed by Pete Townshend, the group's guitarist, that his bandmate won’t be returning. He also revealed that a replacement drummer will step in for future shows.
In his social media post, Townshend said that Starkey “has lots of new projects in hand” and will no longer be performing with the iconic group.
“After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best,” the post read.
Townshend added: “Scott Devours who has worked with Roger’s solo band will join The Who for our final shows. Please welcome him.”
News of Starkey’s departure came just weeks after the drummer was initially axed from the band following the group’s performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
At the time, a representative for Starkey claimed it was a “typical rock’n’roll falling out” before being reinstated three days later. But just a month later, it appears that Starkey is out again.
So what’s going on?
Who is Zak Starkey?
Born in Hammersmith, 59-year-old Zak Starkey is the son of Beatles’ legend, drummer Ringo Starr, and his first wife Maureen Starkey.
At the age of just eight years old, he was reportedly gifted his first drum kit by the former drummer of The Who, Keith Moon.
It was clear that Starkey would follow in his famous father’s footsteps, playing the drums for a number of bands and musicians as he built his career in the music world.
In 1996, he joined The Who as the groups’ drummer, working with the band on their Quadrophenia tour, and going on to support the band on a number of other events. He’s played alongside The Who ever since.
Aside from working with The Who, Starkey has also played with Oasis and toured with the band in the early noughties, and also formed his own band called Penguins Rising.
Why was Zak Starkey apparently sacked?
In April 2025, Starkey was reportedly sacked from the group over a dispute about the band’s recent performance at the Royal Albert Hall. It was alleged that his band members weren’t pleased with his performance.
Reports suggest that frontman Roger Daltry told the crowd: “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.”
In a statement, it was then revealed that Starkey had then been axed from the band. “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” it read. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
Starkey told Rolling Stone: “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? I plan to take some much needed time off with my family.”
He was later reinstated in the group only to now leave once again. Starkey maintains that he leaves “on good terms and great friends as we have always been”.
“Gotta love these guys,” he concluded in the Instagram post.
