What’s occurring, mun? The Who have only gone and done it again — firing poor Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s lad, no less) not once but twice in just a few weeks. Honestly, you couldn’t script this level of rock ‘n’ roll soap opera if you tried. Let’s dive into the madness, pint in hand 🍺🥁
⚡ The First Clash – Royal Albert Hall, March 2025
Picture it: posh old Royal Albert Hall, chandeliers sparkling, punters in their Sunday best ready to belt along to Baba O’Riley. Instead, Roger Daltrey starts having a go mid-show, moaning:
“All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom!”
Oi oi, that’s a bit harsh, Rog! Poor Zak must’ve been tamping. Not long after, he was quietly shown the door. The official word? A “mutual decision.” Reality? Zak blindsided and gutted. Tidy start to the farewell run, eh? 🙄
🔄 Round Two – The Fake-Out Reunion
But hang on — just a few days later, Pete Townshend jumps online with a “nothing to see here” message. Apparently it was all just a “communication issue.” Cue Zak back behind the kit, all smiles. Fans breathed a sigh of relief. Surely that’s it? Surely peace had returned to Planet Who?
…yeah, right. 🤦♂️
🥁 The May Meltdown – Zak Fired AGAIN (19th May 2025)
Fast forward to 18–19 May and things properly kicked off. Pete Townshend posts on Instagram that “the time has come for a change” and announces Scott Devours (yes, the same fella who’s subbed in before) as the new drummer for their farewell gigs.
Zak wasn’t having any of it. Within an hour, he clapped back with his own post:
- Claimed he’d been asked to pretend he quit voluntarily.
- Said flat-out: “This would be a lie. I love The Who.”
- Called the whole thing out as a stitch-up.
Fair play to him — it takes guts to call out your own bandmates like that in public. Proper punk spirit. 🤘🔥
🎭 From Firing to “Retirement” – Changing the Tune
Just when fans were trying to make sense of it, Zak came out later in May with a new statement. Turns out Daltrey had described it as a “retirement” so Zak could work on his own projects. The pair apparently patched things up, with Zak insisting they’re still on good terms.
So… was he fired? Was he retired? Or was it a bit of both with a dodgy PR spin? Only The Who know for sure. 🤷♂️
🎸 Family Matters – Enter Ringo Starr
As if things weren’t spicy enough, Zak’s dad Ringo Starr threw his hat in the ring by June. He didn’t mince his words either, allegedly calling Daltrey a “little man” for the way he handled his son’s exit. Oof. Imagine that Christmas dinner chat. 🥴
Zak, to his credit, stayed classy — said there were no hard feelings and that he’d even consider playing with The Who again if the stars aligned. What a legend.
📅 The Zak Starkey Saga – Timeline of Chaos
| Date | Drama |
|---|---|
| March 2025 | Dodgy Royal Albert Hall gig. Daltrey moans about the drumming. |
| Mid-April 2025 | Zak fired. Shock and heartbreak. |
| Few days later | Rehired after “communication issues.” |
| 18–19 May 2025 | Townshend announces Zak is out. Zak fires back, saying he was actually fired. |
| 26 May 2025 | Zak says it’s a “retirement” and insists he’s on good terms with Rog. |
| June 2025 | Ringo defends his lad, calls out Daltrey. Zak stays classy. |
🤘 Verdict – A Rock Soap Opera for the Ages
So there we are, butt. Zak Starkey — fired, retired, unfired, refired, and somehow still dignified through it all. Meanwhile, The Who march on with Scott Devours for their big farewell shows.
Whatever side of the fence you’re on, you’ve got to admit: this is one of the most rock ‘n’ roll sagas we’ve seen in yonks. Proper messy, proper juicy, and proper Who. Tidy! 🏴
👉 What do you reckon, mun? Should Zak have stayed? Was Rog out of order? Or is it just classic band bust-up chaos? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s have a proper pint-fuelled debate 🍻
