Zak Starkey Breaks Silence on The Who Feud and Says the Band Thrives on “Friction”
Photo by Kubacheck, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rock bands are known for internal clashes, even while creating lasting music. Groups like the Eagles and the Beatles argued openly during their most productive years. Now, Zak Starkey is speaking about his own tense history with the Who. Starkey, 60, is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and served as the Who’s drummer for nearly 30 years. After a series of exits and returns, he is sharing his side of what happened and where things stand now.
A Long History With the Band
Despite being dismissed by Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, Starkey says there is no total breakdown between them. Speaking to the New York Post, he explained, “We’re still friends. We still talk all the time.” His tone suggests familiarity rather than bitterness, even after years of tension and mixed signals from the band’s leadership.
He also added clarity to that statement by admitting that conflict has always been part of the group’s dynamic. “But The Who has an addiction to friction, and tempers flare. I’m not the guy with a temper, really. I’m just a guy who won’t be walked all over, and I don’t think that I should be treated unfairly and not be able to speak up.”
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Fired, Rehired, Then Fired Again
Starkey said his problems began last spring when he was removed from the band, then later brought back, only to be let go again a month later. This all happened as the Who prepared for what was being described as a farewell tour across Canada and the United States.
According to Starkey, the trouble started after a disagreement with Daltrey over a performance of “The Song Is Over” at a London concert in March. He explained, “I got fired. I was asked to make a public statement apologizing for dropping beats, which I did, and I was rehired.” He later said the band wanted him to claim he left on his own after the second dismissal, which he refused to do.
Public Statements and Mixed Messages
Starkey said he stayed quiet after declining to issue that statement. “So I said nothing. Then they made a statement saying I’d moved on, inferring I’d quit. So I went back and said, ‘Look, I didn’t [expletive] quit, you fired me. That’s a lie, and I’m not going to [expletive] lie.’”
He also claimed the situation dragged on. “A little bit more time went by, and I spoke to Roger a few times, and then he basically said don’t take your drums from our storage facility because we probably want you back.” Soon after, an interview he had done earlier appeared in the Telegraph, and Starkey said he was dismissed again the next day.
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Looking Ahead Without Regret
Despite the turmoil, Starkey says his passion for music has not faded. He is set to perform a one-man show in New York on February 20 at the Gramercy Theatre and remains positive about his career.
“Music’s great, isn’t it? If you love music, it’s not a job. It’s more like a blessing. I’ve never had a gig that I’d call a job, really.”
