Long-time drummer Zak Starkey has opened up after being fired by The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend – saying ‘what can you do’ after questions about his drumming performance
The Who’s Zak Starkey has broken his silence after being sacked by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.
The star said he was “surprised and saddened” that anyone would question his performance at the Royal Albert Hall in March which came under the spotlight. It came after the Mirror broke the news that he was sacked from the band as they felt his drumming was sub-par.
Zak 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 added: “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 I wish them the best.”
READ MORE: Rock legends The Who sack their drummer in bust-up – ‘It’s a little acrimonious’
Zak has been The Who’s full-time drummer since their Quadrophenia Tour in 1996. A spokesperson for The Who said on Tuesday: “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”
An insider told the Mirror at the time: “It’s a little acrimonious to say the least.”
Now details of that gig have emerged including how the front man threw his hands up to complain and repeatedly stopped the March 30 gig. At one point Daltrey complained: “All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that” He added during the show: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t.” At another moment, he complained: Roger said, ‘It was going so well… I can sing in any f***ing key you want, but I need to hear which one.”
An insider said: “It was the final straw for the band and they knew they had to pull the plug. It’s a shame but it is what it is.”
In 2004, Zak joined Oasis, filling a void left by long-time member Alan White’s departure. The band split in 2009. He was rumoured to be involved in the upcoming Oasis reunion. The Mirror revealed last August how Zak was banned from staying at a Victorian manor house on Airbnb after he let slip he was planning a party.
Zak had booked the six-bed pad in the Chilterns for his wife Sharna Liguz’s 40th birthday. But while he was looking around the plush property, Zak told the cleaners he was throwing a bash, with a host of showbiz pals – including Liam Gallagher, 51, and 60-year-old Johnny Marr – invited.
Zak said: “The Airbnb hosts cancelled after Googling me and seeing Oasis and The Who – the two worst-behaved bands in the history of rock ’n’ roll . It would look great on a T-shirt.”
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