The Who's drummer Zak Starkey has been fired for the second time this year

The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey has been fired for the second time, weeks after being reinstated.

Guitarist Pete Townshend posted a statement to Instagram on Monday, announcing that Starkey was no longer part of the band. This comes months away from the start of their North American farewell tour, beginning in August.

“After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change,” Townshend’s post read. “A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.”

 

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One hour after he made the post, Starkey took to Instagram with a new statement, claiming his exit from the band was not a mutual decision.

“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavours," he wrote. “This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit.”

 

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Back in April, Starkey was reportedly fired due to a disagreement about his performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Reviews from the gig indicate frontman Roger Daltrey paused during ‘The Song Is Over,’ telling the audience, “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.”

The Who published a statement to The Guardian regarding the incident.

“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” they wrote. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

“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?” Starkey responded.

Three days later, the drummer was reinstated to the band.

“He’s not being asked to step down from The Who,” Townshend said in a statement. “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.

“Roger [Daltrey] and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed. I take responsibility for some of the confusion.”

Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, originally joined the band in 1996 during their Quadrophenia tour. He was introduced to drumming by The Who’s former drummer Keith Moon, with a drum kit he was gifted on his eighth birthday.