Zak Starkey Rubbishes Reports He Retired from The Who, Insists He Was ‘Fired’

The saga around Zak Starkey’s departure from The Who continues to rumble on. In a new Instagram post on Wednesday (May 28), the band’s former drummer called reports that he “retired” from his position in iconic group as “f-kin total bollox” while insisting that he was, indeed, “fired” from the group.

Starkey’s position as the band’s drummer has been uncertain since a show at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March. Reports suggested that Daltrey was unhappy with Starkey’s playing on the night, and a number of songs were cut short. Starkey – Ringo Starr’s son and a prolific session drummer – has been a part of the live lineup since 1996. In a statement, the band said, “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.”

His position was reinstated briefly after “communication issues” were resolved, but following the announcement of The Who’s farewell tour dates in North America, guitarist Pete Townshend confirmed that time had “come for a change” in relation to their drummer, and that Scott Devours would be taking on the role.

On Monday (May 26) the drummer shared an Instagram post stating that Daltrey had said that Starkey had not been “fired,” but “retired” to work on his project with supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos, which includes Starkey and members of Happy Mondays. The group’s upcoming debut LP features a song written by Oasis’ Noel Gallagher; Starkey was Oasis’ drummer from 2004-2008.

Two days later, on Wednesday (May 28), Starkey shared a new update with a screengrab of a news story that again indicated that he “retired” from the group. He called the report “f-kin total bollox,” insisted that “I was fired” and that Daltrey’s “new word for it is ‘retired’ to complete my other musical projects.”

He continued, “I called Roger last week and told him in person I had spent nearly 2 months at my studio in Jamaica completing my studio projects. That I had a mantra of the cosmos single out next week and then I was completely available for the foreseeable future… he was a little surprised but understood. It’s true – I have no plan’s whatsoever for the fall as I thought I was touring with The Who and my mantra band mates are v busy in oasis and happy Mondays until the new year . So this is simply a load of bollox … Am I fired , retired, deffo not tired as I’m 20 years younger than these guys as they keep saying.

Starkey added, “Dropping two beats on our second show is not a firing offence – I’ve watched the show on tv I can’t see where I dropped them – I looked everywhere- it’s the who ffs if it was perfect it would be so f–king boring …”

Billboard U.K. has approached The Who’s team for comment on the latest statement by Starkey.

The Who will kick off the U.S. leg of their farewell tour on August 16 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL.