Photo credit: Bill Kelly

Last week, after nearly three decades of collaboration, The Who very publicly split with longtime drummer Zak Starkey. Now, after both sides hurled accusations and issued statements on their side of the fallout to prominent publications, it seems the fiasco is now resolved, and due in large part to some badly crossed wires.

“News Flash! Who back Zak!,” co-founder Pete Townshend posted to Instagram on Saturday, April 19. “Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides that needed to be dealt with. These have all been aired happily.”

Townshend’s message directed onlookers to a full statement on the band’s website, signed by the guitarist and songwriter, which explains that “Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral lineup and he has readily agreed. I take responsibility for some of the confusion. Our TCT shows at the Royal Albert Hall were a little tricky for me. I thought that four and a half weeks would be enough time to recover completely from having a complete knee replacement. (Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?) Wrong!

“Maybe we didn’t put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage,” the address continues. “The sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with. Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer.”

This message confirms the friction fans witnessed onstage at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where one show in a recent run ended as Daltrey paused closing cut “The Song Is Over” to tell the audience: “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.”

On Thursday, April 17, the band acted on this grievance by officially marking a split in a statement to the Guardian: “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall.” The Who’s representative continued, “They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

After a scathing post to his own social channels that said The Who intended to replace him with “A RESERVE FROM ‘THE BURWASH CARWASH SKIFFLE ‘N’ TICKLE GLEE CLUB HARMONY WITHOUT EMPATHY ALLSTARS,’” Starkey shared a more collected comment with Variety. “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,” Ringo Starr’s son said, referencing his dad’s friend, the late Keith Moon. 

“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. 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?”

Townshend’s latest statement suggests that any ire has been resolved, and the band will now move ahead peaceably in its former formation. “We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen,” Thownshend wrote. “It’s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.”

Read Townshend’s full statement and learn more about The Who’s 2025 live itinerary at thewho.com.