The Who Fires Drummer Zak Starkey Following Conflict With Roger Daltrey

After almost three decades behind the kit for The Who, drummer Zak Starkey—son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr—has officially been let go from the band. His departure follows reports of backstage tension with frontman Roger Daltrey, which spilled out into public view during the band’s recent shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Not-So-Subtle Signs on Social Media

Starkey, 59, has been drumming with The Who since their 1996 comeback. On April 13, he took to Instagram with a cheeky post that seemed to hint at the fallout. He wrote:

“Heard today… that Roger Daltrey, lead singer and principal songwriter of the group [is] unhappy with Zak the drummer’s performance … bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer.”

While Starkey didn’t name names directly, the message was pretty clear—and it didn’t sound entirely joking.

A Clash Over the Beat

The band officially announced Starkey’s exit shortly after the shows wrapped. “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” a representative stated. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

Still, not everything seems to have ended on good terms. According to The Mirror, a source described the split as “a little acrimonious to say the least.” Things got tense when Daltrey reportedly called out Starkey mid-show, 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.”

Health Issues May Have Played a Role

Some fans have wondered if Starkey’s drumming was affected by health issues. Back in January, he was forced to cancel a gig with his other band, Mantra Of The Cosmos, due to a blood clot in his leg. While there’s no official word tying that to his performance with The Who, it may have influenced his recent playing style.

After nearly 30 years with the band, Starkey’s departure marks the end of an era—and fans are left wondering what’s next for both sides.