Zak Starkey, son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, and drummer for The Who for nearly 30 years, has been dismissed from the band. And now, he’s talking about it.
So first — yes, it’s true. The Who parted ways with Zak after almost three decades behind the kit. The reports floated after their March Teenage Cancer Trust gigs at the Royal Albert Hall, where apparently someone in the band or crew wasn’t loving Zak’s performance.
Now, Zak gave a statement to Rolling Stone. But now here’s the real gut punch, he also revealed that in January, just weeks before those Royal Albert Hall gigs, he had a serious medical emergency involving blood clots in his right bass drum leg. He said:
“I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They’ve been like family to me. In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
He continued: “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, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run.
And by the way, 29 years at any job is impressive. But 29 years as the drummer for The Who, surviving arena tours, internal feuds, Keith Moon comparisons, and a rotating door of legends, that’s great stuff. And no hard feelings, apparently. Zak ended his statement saying: “I wish them the best.”
Starkey first entered the Who’s orbit in 1994 when he backed Roger Daltrey on an American tour. A couple of years later, he joined the Who, when the surviving members reunited for a tour celebrating their 1973 LP Quadrophenia.
During an interview, Starkey’s father, Ringo Starr shared his thoughts on Zak Starkey joining The Who.
