Zak Starkey, the talented drummer, has expressed feelings of being “surprised and saddened” after the Who made the decision to part ways with him following an impressive 29-year tenure performing live with the iconic band. His long association with the group has made this news particularly impactful for both Starkey and the fans who have followed his journey.
On Tuesday, the Who officially announced that they arrived at a “collective decision to part ways” with Starkey, a move that surprised many in the music community. In a lighthearted yet poignant Instagram post, Starkey, who is the son of legendary drummer Ringo Starr, humorously remarked that the band had filed “formal charges of overplaying” against him after their recent performances at the Royal Albert Hall.
In a more serious statement shared with Rolling Stone today, Starkey opened up about a significant medical issue he faced in January. He clarified that although he underwent a serious medical emergency, he has since made a full recovery and is confident that this health scare did not hinder his performance abilities.
“I’m incredibly proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Stepping into the role of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith [Moon]’ has been the greatest honor of my life, and I continue to be their biggest fan. The band has always felt like family to me. Earlier this year, I experienced a major health scare due to blood clots in my right calf, which is now completely healed and has no bearing on my drumming or physical condition.
“After performing those classic songs with the band for so many years, I find it shocking and disheartening that anyone would express dissatisfaction with my performance that night. However, I have to accept the situation. I plan to take some well-deserved time off to spend with my family, concentrate on the upcoming release of ‘Domino Bones’ by Mantra of the Cosmos featuring Noel Gallagher in May, and finish writing my autobiography exclusively penned by me. Completing twenty-nine years at any job is quite an achievement, and I genuinely wish The Who all the best in their future endeavors.”
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Footage captured during the Who‘s performance on March 30th at the Royal Albert Hall shows lead singer Roger Daltrey halting the song “This Song is Over” to voice his frustrations about not being able to hear the other instruments clearly because of Starkey’s drumming. This incident raises questions about the balance and mix during live performances.
“To effectively sing that song, I need to hear the key, and right now, I can’t,” Daltrey stated around the 3:10 mark. “All I’m hearing is the drum sound: boom, boom, boom. I can’t perform to that. I apologize, gentlemen.” It remains uncertain whether he was referring to the mix from the monitors, the overall stage volume, or the specific nature of Starkey’s drumming style.
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Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci
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