Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band
Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band originally appeared on Parade.
After a whirlwind month of band drama—Zak Starkey, longtime drummer and son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr—is finally setting the record straight about where he stands with The Who.
In a candid new interview with The Telegraph, Starkey, 59, says things took a turn following a rare live performance of "The Song Is Over" at the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall earlier this year.
"What happened was I got it right and Roger got it wrong," Starkey said of the musical misstep, claiming that frontman Roger Daltrey came in a bar ahead of schedule during the song.
Just a week later, Starkey says he got a call from The Who's longtime manager, Bill Curbishley, ousting him from the group. The alleged reason?
"Roger says you dropped some beats," Starkey, who has drummed for both The Who and Oasis, recalls being told.
But according to the musician, he's reviewed the tape and didn't hear those missing beats.
"Then Pete [Townshend] had to go along with it because Pete's had 60 years of arguing with Roger," he added of the alleged incident.
The drama with the band didn't stop there, however, with Starkey revealing that he briefly rejoined the group, but only after being pressured to accept blame for the onstage snafu—and spoiler alert, the reunion didn't last long.
"It became clear Roger couldn't work with me," he shared. "I don't blame anyone. I blame The Who, because they're unpredictable, aggressive and f--king insane."
Even still, Starkey isn't ruling out a return to the group, especially after he says Daltrey, 81, told him to keep his drums on standby.
"Don't take your drums out of [The Who's] warehouse yet in case we need you," Starkey says Daltrey told him, with him urging the frontman to let him know should The Who have a change of heart.
For now, drummer Scott Devours has taken over, as The Who gears up for their The Song Is Over farewell U.S. tour, kicking off August 16 in Sunrise, Florida. The tour will run through September 28, capping off in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band first appeared on Parade on Jun 16, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fast Company
34 minutes ago
- Fast Company
This Twix ad is so ‘dangerous' it was banned in the UK
A TV ad for Twix has been banned in the UK after an industry standards group said it promoted unsafe driving. The commercial 'Two is More Than One' shows a driver in vintage sedan being followed on a remote road; to lose his pursuer, he swerves off the highway and into a ravine. The man lands safely upside down on top a right-side-up clone version of him and his car, and together—with Twix in hand—they ride off into the desert as the sun sets. The ad is an absurd play on the double candy bars Twix is known for, but for regulators for the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), an independent advertising regulator in the UK that polices ads standards, the ad went too far. In a ruling Wednesday, the ASA said the ad encourages 'dangerous driving' and banned it from airing again in its current iteration. Absurdity and fantasy are favorite ways for advertisers to sell products from candy to perfume, and Mars Wrigley argued their Twix ad had 'a cinematic presentation' and was set 'in a separate world that was absurd, fantastical and removed from reality.' Rather than encourage unsafe driving, the company argued the ad used imaginative storytelling, absurd elements, and Hollywood style to convey the message of the campaign, according to the ruling. Further, the company noted that Twix is known for playful, humorous advertising, like 'Ideologies,' the 2012 ad that pitted the left vs. right Twix against each other. The ASA didn't dispute that the ad had a cinematic feel, but they had a problem with the emphasis on a chase and speed, and ultimately the group believed the spot broke ad standards against encouraging irresponsible driving. The ASA has enforced the rule before, including in 2015 against Honda. 'We considered the emphasis on a chase, and the speed inherent to that, and the driving maneuvers featured would be dangerous and irresponsible if emulated in real life on a public highway,' the ruling says. 'Because we considered the driving depicted in the ads condoned unsafe driving, that appeared likely to breach the legal requirements of the Highway Code, we concluded the ads were irresponsible.' The ad no longer appears on the Twix UK YouTube page, though third-party accounts uploaded it for the curious, and truth be told, it's a whole lot more interesting now that it's banned. For a candy brand that caters to the young and young at heart, making a humorous commercial that's too dangerous for TV might just be a badge of honor.
Fox News
34 minutes ago
- Fox News
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle facing major staff turnover dubbed a ‘bloodbath': expert
Print Close By Stephanie Nolasco, Ashley Papa Published June 17, 2025 There's been another staff shake-up within the House of Sussex. Four members of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's staff have left in recent weeks, People magazine confirmed on Friday. Hello! Magazine, which was the first outlet to report the news, said that the staffers who left included their Los Angeles-based deputy press secretary, Kyle Boulia, and their U.K. press officer, Charlie Gipson. Both were brought on last year. Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell, which handles the offices of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for comment. PRINCE HARRY REMAINS STUCK IN THE PAST WHILE MEGHAN MARKLE BUILDS HOLLYWOOD EMPIRE: EXPERTS "This stands as another indication of the dysfunction and instability within their household," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. "Highly qualified professionals from many top-notch firms have previously struggled to thrive under the Sussexes," Fordwich claimed. "This latest bloodbath serves as solid confirmation." According to People, Meghan, 43, and Harry, 40, hired Meredith Maines as their chief communications officer earlier this year. She previously worked for Google, Hulu and "American Idol." The couple also added Emily Robinson, formerly of Netflix, as the new director of communications. "Something tells me there will be another change in the future," a source told Hello! Magazine. "Meghan and Harry have hired some of the most incredible people at the top of their fields, yet somehow none of them ever work out." Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that about 20 people have left their roles working for the Sussexes. The couple stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. "Something is clearly very wrong if you work for the Sussexes," Fitzwilliams claimed. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "There are those who would link this to the reputation Meghan has of being difficult to work with," he shared. "Bullying allegations, which Meghan has strongly denied, have dogged her since they surfaced in The Times before the notorious Oprah interview [in 2021]. They were recently repeated in The Hollywood Reporter where it was alleged that Meghan was 'a dictator in high heels' and also appeared in Vanity Fair. "There could be another reason - the Sussexes are often dreadful at making plans," Fitzwilliams claimed. "On the one hand, it was always clear that a series like 'Polo' for Netflix would flop. Yet, they still went ahead. On the other hand, it is most unlikely that Harry took advice before he appeared on the BBC [in May] after he lost his case on security." "I would love to know who advised them that it made sense to post the 'twerking video,'" said Fitzwilliams, referring to the video Meghan posted of her and Harry doing the "Baby Mama Dance" on the day of Princess Lilibet's birth. "This will haunt them," said Fitzwilliams. "With judgments as bad as this… you can't blame staff for looking elsewhere." British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that the Sussexes are "on a mission to create their own royal court." "[They want to] boost their profiles," she claimed. "[There's a view] that a new, bigger team will be better for them and especially help Meghan create a financial empire." WATCH: MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY ACTED LIKE A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS, PALACE SOURCES ALLEGE IN EXPLOSIVE NEW BOOK In February, Vanity Fair published a scathing cover story about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's lives in California. A spokesperson for the couple didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment at the time. Several of those who worked with the former American actress came forward to the outlet and candidly shared their experiences. They described how, at first, the mother of two would be "warm and effusive," creating an atmosphere of "professional camaraderie." However, whenever something went poorly, "often due to Meghan and Harry's own demands," she would become "cold and withholding towards the person she perceived to be responsible." A source told the outlet that it was "really, really, really awful. Very painful." "She's constantly playing checkers," the source claimed. "She's just very aware of where everybody is on her board. And when you're not in it, you are to be thrown to the wolves at any given moment." The source described it as "undermining." LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "It's talking behind your back. It's gnawing at your sense of self. Really, like 'Mean Girls' teenager," claimed the source. Producer Jane Marie had a different experience collaborating with the duchess. "She's just a lovely, genuine person," Marie told the outlet. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that the Sussexes are looking to revamp their image as they continue raising their young family in the U.S. "The Sussexes seem to be losing the war against the constant vitriolic comments from unnamed individuals close to the royal family in London," he claimed. "The Crown seems to be turning fiction into reality now with brand and media battles constantly going on," he said. "King Charles is seen giving a cheery wave and smile in public but has his head in his hands in private over how to unite the family." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fordwich and Fitzwilliams said the couple's swift staff turnaround has raised eyebrows. Two sources told Vanity Fair that a colleague with ties to the couple's Spotify podcast "Archetypes" took a leave of absence after working on three episodes. Several others said they took extended breaks from work "to escape scrutiny," left their jobs, or underwent "long-term therapy after working with Meghan." "I think if Meghan acknowledged her own shortcomings or personal contributions to situations rather than staying trapped in a victim narrative, her perception might be better," a source told Vanity Fair. "But who am I to criticize Meghan Markle? She's doing great." When the couple made their royal exit, they cited the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media, as well as a lack of support from the palace, as their reasons for stepping back. But in 2021, days before Meghan and Harry's televised interview with Oprah Winfrey aired, royal reporter Valentine Low broke the story of bullying allegations against the duchess. Meghan's team strongly refuted the claims. "The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma," a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital at the time. PRINCE HARRY ACCUSED OF BULLYING IN 'DEEPLY DAMAGING' CLAIMS AS NEW SCANDAL ROCKS SUSSEXES: EXPERT "She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good." A spokesperson for the Sussexes also told The Times, "Let's just call this what it is – a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation." Low told Fox News Digital in 2023 that he stood by his reporting. "The important thing is we all know they're quite litigious," he said, referring to the Sussexes. "But despite getting several strongly worded letters from their lawyers before we published - after we published, we didn't hear a word from them. So that speaks volumes, too." Low's book "Courtiers" also alleged that "relations between the couple and some of their senior staff became so fractious that William's private secretary had to step in to help keep the peace." Low also claimed that some former staff still had difficulty discussing their experiences. Some would even refer to themselves as members of "The Sussex Survivors' Club." When Low's book was published in 2023, reps for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace previously told Fox News Digital they generally do not comment "on such books." MEGHAN MARKLE'S 'MESSIAH COMPLEX,' FREQUENT HUGS SPARKED CLASH WITHIN PALACE BEFORE ROYAL EXIT: BOOK Meghan returned to Instagram in the new year after disabling her social media accounts ahead of her 2018 royal wedding. There, she regularly promotes her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and her Netflix lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan." New episodes are premiering in the fall. Print Close URL
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gary Oldman Names The Film Of His He's 'Triggered' By When He Sees It
Sir Gary Oldman has admitted there's one hugely popular film of his that he still struggles to sit through. The newly-knighted British actor recently sat down with the Happy Sad Confused podcast for a career-spanning conversation about his life and acting. During the discussion, host Josh Horowitz brought up The Fifth Element, the sci-fi movie Sir Gary starred in back in 1997. While the film – which also featured Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Chris Tucker – split opinion down the middle upon its original release, it's since gone on to become a cult classic with a loyal following. However, it seems Sir Gary is not a part of that. The Oscar winner revealed that while his wife of eight years, Gisele Schmidt, has talked him round from hating the film, it's still not one he'd want to watch without her encouragement. 'She has convinced me that it's a better film than I think it is,' he said, to laughter from the audience. 'I'm contaminated, because I was the one who had that haircut. And I was the one who was wearing rubber. So, others can experience it in a different way. I get a little triggered when I see it, and I go back to that place of Jean-Paul Gaultier and rubber.' He added: 'Bruce didn't like [that] either. You know that orange vest that he wears? He hated it.' During a 2014 interview with Playboy, Sir Gary claimed he 'can't bear' watching The Fifth Element, having said at a Bafta event years earlier: 'It was me singing for my supper because [director Luc Besson] had come in and partly financed Nil By Mouth.' It's fair to say that Sir Gary has no issues criticising his own past work, though. That same Playboy interview saw him admitting he's unimpressed with his own performance in Sid & Nancy, claiming he 'didn't want to make it in the first place' and was 'talked into it at the time'. In 2023, he also described his performance as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter movies as 'mediocre'. 'If I sat and watched myself in something and said, 'My God, I'm amazing,' that would be a very sad day, because you want to make the next thing better,' he added. 'I Was Broke': Gary Oldman Gets Honest About Starring In 1 Of The Most Hated Films Ever Gary Oldman Reveals Why He Had To Apologise To Demi Moore On The Set Of The Scarlet Letter We Want To Knight Gary Oldman All Over Again After These Exciting Slow Horses Updates
