Zak Starkey Reflects on Departure from The Who After Nearly 30 Years

Zak Starkey, longtime drummer for The Who and son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, has expressed his surprise and sadness following his departure from the iconic band. Starkey, who joined The Who in 1996, stepped away after their recent performances for the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. A band statement described it as a ‘collective decision.’ A review had suggested frontman Roger Daltrey was frustrated with the drumming, prompting speculation about internal tensions. Starkey responded in Rolling Stone, stating he was proud of his tenure and honored to fill the shoes of Keith Moon, whom he affectionately called ‘Uncle Keith.’ He also referenced a recent health scare involving a blood clot in his right leg, though he confirmed it has fully healed and has no impact on his drumming. Moving forward, Starkey plans to focus on his side project Mantra Of The Cosmos, including the release of their single ‘Domino Bones’ featuring Noel Gallagher, and on his autobiography. While The Who has announced two upcoming shows in Italy, no official replacement for Starkey has been named.