Zar Starkey has always found his place behind a drum kit. As the son of the famous Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, he was sure to be successful in music. And he did just that, building his career with bands like the Semantics, the Lightning Seeds, and the Icicle Works before he started drumming for the Who.
For nearly 30 years, Starkey became an important member of the band. So, when rumors started flying that he had been fired, fans did not know what to believe. He also spoke about it then, expressing his sadness and surprise. Social media worsened the rumors, but Roger Daltrey addressed the issue during a show.
Roger Daltrey and Zak Starkey feud rumors
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As different opinions circulated on social media, Roger Daltrey paused mid-concert at a recent show in his Alive and Kicking and Having Fun tour to speak directly to the crowd about the news. He was a bit fiery, joking that he felt he was living in an episode of The Twilight Zone as he read wild stories about himself online, which he did not even recognize.
Daltrey clarified that much of what fans read on social media about the situation was untrue and that Starkey was still part of the band’s family. Tracing it back, the issue began in March, after the Who’s charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall, where Daltrey briefly commented about being unable to hear a song’s key because the drums were too loud, but as soon as it got to the internet, it became a much bigger story.
Zak Starkey is back with The Who
Following the incident, Starkey thanked fans for their support and hinted that he was looking forward to spending more time with family, working on new music, and finishing his autobiography. After 29 years with the Who, he said, whatever came next, it had been a good long run.
This even became more confusing; however, he later clarified that what happened was simply a miscommunication, which is not unusual in a band that is more like a big family. Within days, the rumor had cleared, and life with the Who returned to normal.