Legendary rock band fires longtime drummer after ‘huge fall out’ (2025)

Update: Drummer ‘surprised and saddened’ by firing from legendary rock band

A legendary rock band has reportedly parted ways with its drummer after playing together for decades.

The Who, featuring singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, fired drummer Zak Starkey following a “huge fall out,” The Sun reported.

“The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall,” a spokesperson for The Who told the outlet. “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

The band’s fallout is believed to have occurred during The Who’s two Royal Albert Hall shows last month. A review of the band’s March gig in the Metro implied that Daltrey openly bashed Starkey’s performance while on stage.

While performing “The Song Is Over,” Daltrey stopped and said, “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t. All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that. I’m sorry guys,’” according to the review.

Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey, hinted that he knew The Who was letting him go in a cryptic Instagram post on April 12.

“Heard today from inside source within whose horses nose that [Roger Daltrey] lead singer and principal songwriter of the group unhappy With Zak the drummer’s performance at the Albert hall a few weeks ago is bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer,” Starkey wrote.

Starkey joined The Who on the Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 after he was introduced by the band’s original drummer, Keith Moon, The Guardian reported.

Starkey contributed to The Who’s most recent albums, including 2006’s “Endless Wire” and 2019’s “Who,” plus multiple live recordings. He also performed with The Who at major events like the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2010 Super Bowl.

Starkey has also played with Oasis, Johnny Marr, the Lightning Seeds, Sly and Robbie and his father. The drummer is also part of the recently formed supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos. The group includes Shaun Ryder and Bez of the Happy Mondays and Black Grape, and Andy Bell of Oasis and Ride.

The Who have not yet revealed a replacement for Starkey.