It’s been a rollercoaster few months for Zak Starkey drummer, longtime member of The Who, and son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr. Amidst a whirlwind of being fired, re-hired, and then reportedly fired again from The Who, fans and industry insiders alike have been left scratching their heads. Now, Pete Townshend, the band’s legendary guitarist and chief songwriter, is offering his take on the situation and it’s far from clarifying.
In a recent interview with iNews, Townshend candidly addressed the chaos surrounding Starkey’s status with the band:
“I’m just as confused as the rest of you,” he admitted.
The turmoil started after The Who’s performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which didn’t go over smoothly. During the show, Roger Daltrey, now 81, made an unusually blunt comment about Starkey’s playing, telling the crowd:
“All I’ve got is drum sound: boom, boom, boom. And I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys.”
That public call-out set off a chain reaction of internal tensions, reportedly worsened by Starkey’s involvement in other projects, including the psychedelic supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos and speculation around his potential role in a future Oasis reunion a band he previously played for.
While neither Starkey nor Daltrey have offered a full explanation of the behind-the-scenes drama, Townshend’s remarks suggest that even within the band, communication may be breaking down.
The Who, a group that has navigated more than half a century of evolution, conflict, and reinvention, now finds itself at a crossroads not just musically, but interpersonally. Whether Zak Starkey will return to the fold or officially part ways remains to be seen.
For now, the only certainty is the uncertainty and Townshend, like the rest of us, is watching it unfold in real time.
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