Zak Starkey, the talented drummer known for his long-standing association with The Who, has publicly addressed his surprising removal from the band after an extensive tenure spanning nearly 30 years. In a heartfelt statement, Starkey expressed his shock upon learning that ROGER DALTREY, the iconic lead singer of the band, reportedly took issue with his drumming during a recent performance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London.

“I take great pride in my nearly 30 years of collaboration with The Who,” Starkey conveyed in a statement released on Wednesday (April 16), as reported by People. He added, “Filling the significant role of my Godfather and dear friend, the legendary Keith Moon [Moon] has been an incredible honor, and I will always remain their most ardent supporter. The band members have become like family to me throughout this journey.”

The seasoned session and live drummer, who is the son of the iconic former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife Maureen Starkey, shared that he experienced a “serious medical emergency” earlier this year. In January, he underwent treatment for blood clots in his right calf. Thankfully, he reported, “This condition has healed completely and does not impact my ability to drum or run.”

In a recent statement to The Guardian, a spokesperson for The Who clarified, “The band reached a mutual decision to part ways with Zak following this series of performances at the Royal Albert Hall. They hold him in high regard and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors.”

The performances in question took place on March 18 and 20, benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that Roger Daltrey has passionately supported for many years. According to Metro, Daltrey, who recently disclosed his struggles with hearing and eyesight, reportedly expressed frustration with Starkey’s drumming during the show, stopping several songs mid-performance to communicate his difficulty in hearing the band’s music over Starkey’s drums.

During the band’s performance of the iconic Who’s Next track “The Song Is Over,” Daltrey allegedly addressed the audience, stating, “To successfully sing this song, I need to hear the key, but all I can hear are the drums going boom, boom, boom. I cannot sing to that. I apologize, everyone.”

In his statement, Starkey conveyed his astonishment that “anyone” could find fault with his drumming that evening. “After performing these songs alongside the band for decades, I am both surprised and saddened to learn that someone would take issue with my performance that night. However, there’s little that can be done,” he remarked, seemingly referencing the Metro article. “I intend to take some well-deserved time off with my family while also focusing on the upcoming release of ‘Domino Bones’ by Mantra Of The Cosmos featuring Noel Gallagher in May, as well as finishing my autobiography, which is solely written by me. Nearly 30 years in any profession is a commendable run, and I wish the band all the best.”

Starkey, who first joined The Who in 1996 during their reunion tour, where they performed their classic 1973 double album Quadrophenia in its entirety, appeared to hint at his impending departure in a recent Instagram post. In that post, he indicated that he sensed Daltrey, now 81 years old, was “unhappy” with his performance.

“JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM AN INSIDER WITHIN WHOSE HORSES NOSE THAT ROGER DALTREY, THE LEAD SINGER AND PRIMARY SONGWRITER OF THE BAND, IS UNHAPPY WITH ZAK THE DRUMMER’S PERFORMANCE AT THE ALBERT HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO,” he captioned alongside a photo of himself sitting next to a smiling Daltrey. “HE IS FORMALLY CHARGING ZAK WITH OVERPLAYING AND IS SEEKING TO REPLACE HIM WITH A DRUMMER FROM ‘THE BURWASH CARWASH SKIFFLE ‘N’ TICKLE GLEE CLUB HARMONY WITHOUT EMPATHY ALLSTARS.’ THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE WHO’S LONG-TIME MANAGER, WILLYA YOUWONTYOUKNOW.”

Starkey’s journey as a drummer began when the original drummer of The Who and a close family friend, Keith Moon, gifted him a drum kit for his eighth birthday. In addition to his long tenure with The Who, Starkey has collaborated with several renowned artists, including Oasis, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, and Graham Coxon. He is also a member of the new supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos, which features members from Happy Mondays/Black Grape, including Shaun Ryder and Bez, as well as Andy Bell from Oasis and Ride.