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Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Legendary Brit rock band fire drummer for second time in a month as he issues savage statement
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE WHO drummer Zak Starkey has hit out at the band after being sacked for the second time in just four weeks. Starkey, 59 - son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr - denied it was his decision to leave the band ahead of their farewell tour across North America later this year. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 English drummer Zak Starkey has been fired from The Who Credit: AFP 5 Pete Townshend confirmed Starkey's axe for the second time in four weeks Credit: Getty 5 Roger Daltrey slammed Starkey on stage at the Royal Albert Hall Credit: Redferns His axe was confirmed by Pete Townshend, who posted a photo online with the caption: 'After many years of great work on drums from Starkey, the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' He also revealed Scott Devours, who plays with Roger Daltrey's solo band, will take over behind the kit, adding: 'Please welcome him.' But Starkey quickly shut down any suggestion he walked away - reposting Townshend's image with his own furious message scrawled across it. 'This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never have quit,' he wrote. READ MORE ON BANDS DRUMMER DUMPED Huge rock band fires drummer as devastated musician breaks silence on axe He thanked fans who backed him through the 'weeks of mayhem' after being previously axed, then briefly reinstated before getting the boot again this week. 'Quitting The Who would let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more),' he said. Hitting out at Townshend's claim he had other things going on, Zak said: "To clarify 'other projects'… yes I do have other projects and always have - Johnny Marr, The Lightning Seeds and more. 'None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. 'The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who - I didn't. I love The Who and everyone in it.' Zak has played with the band since the mid-90s and was widely seen as their unofficial third member. The Who's Roger Daltrey performs Pinball Wizard during Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall He was fired from The Who in April following a clash over their Royal Albert Hall gig in March. The Sun exclusively revealed Daltrey, 81, complained live on stage he couldn't hear the key of their final track, The Song Is Over, over the sound of Starkey's drumming. He told the crowd: '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.' Tensions erupted and Starkey publicly braded Roger "Toger Daktrey" and said the the singer was "bringing formal charges of over playing" against him. He was fired but three days later reinstated, with Townshend releasing a statement. He said: 'There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.' On Friday, another drummer spoke out about being axed from a world famous band. Foo Fighters sensationally sacked Josh Freese just two years after he stepped in to replace the late Taylor Hawkins. Who is Zak Starkey? Five key facts ZAK Starkey has been unceremoniously sacked as The Who's drummer - yet who is he? The Who's Roger Daltrey, 81, and bandmate Zak, 59, parted ways following a "huge fall out" at London's Royal Albert Hall. Zak had been The Who's drummer since their Quadropenia tour in 1996 He is is the son of legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr Beatles Ringo Starr Aside from his drumming duties for The Who, Zak is also known for playing with Oasis Oasis He has been tipped to play at the Manchester band's UK reunion tour In January it was revealed Zak fell ill with a blood clot , hours before taking to the stage with Brit supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos Freese said he was devastated to be let go in an emotional statement. He wrote: 'The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer.' No reason was given. :( 'Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. 'In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I've never been let go from a band, so while I'm not angry - just a bit shocked and disappointed. 'But as most of you know, I've always worked freelance and bounced between bands, so, I'm fine. 'Stay tuned for my 'Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list.' 5 Zak, 59, had been The Who's drummer since their Quadropenia tour in 1996 prior to his sacking Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Legendary Brit rock band fire drummer for second time in a month as he issues savage statement
THE WHO drummer Zak Starkey has hit out at the band after being sacked for the second time in just four weeks. Starkey, 59 - son of Beatles legend 5 English drummer Zak Starkey has been fired from The Who Credit: AFP 5 Pete Townshend confirmed Starkey's axe for the second time in four weeks Credit: Getty 5 Roger Daltrey slammed Starkey on stage at the Royal Albert Hall Credit: Redferns His axe was confirmed by He also revealed Scott Devours, who plays with Roger Daltrey's solo band, will take over behind the kit, adding: 'Please welcome him.' But Starkey quickly shut down any suggestion he walked away - reposting Townshend's image with his own furious message scrawled across it. 'This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never have quit,' he wrote. READ MORE ON BANDS He thanked fans who backed him through the 'weeks of mayhem' after being previously axed, then briefly reinstated before getting the boot again this week. 'Quitting The Who would let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more),' he said. Hitting out at Townshend's claim he had other things going on, Zak said: "To clarify 'other projects'… yes I do have other projects and always have - Johnny Marr, The Lightning Seeds and more. 'None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. Most read in Music 'The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who - I didn't. I love The Who and everyone in it.' Zak has played with the band since the mid-90s and was widely seen as their unofficial third member. The Who's Roger Daltrey performs Pinball Wizard during Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall He was fired from The Who in April following a clash over their The Sun exclusively revealed He told the crowd: '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.' Tensions erupted and Starkey publicly braded Roger "Toger Daktrey" and said the the singer was "bringing formal charges of over playing" against him. He was fired but three days later reinstated, with Townshend releasing a statement. He said: 'There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.' On Friday, another drummer spoke out about being axed from a world famous band. Who is Zak Starkey? Five key facts ZAK Starkey has been unceremoniously sacked as The Who's drummer - yet who is he? The Who's Roger Daltrey, 81, and bandmate Zak, 59, at London 's Royal Albert Hall. Zak had been The Who's drummer since their Quadropenia tour in 1996 He is is the son of legendary Beatles drummer Aside from his drumming duties for The Who, Zak is also known for playing with Oasis He has been tipped to play at the Manchester band's UK reunion tour In January it was revealed , hours before taking to the stage with Brit supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos Freese said he was devastated to be let go in an emotional statement. He wrote: 'The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer.' No reason was given. :( 'Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. 'In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I've never been let go from a band, so while I'm not angry - just a bit shocked and disappointed. 'But as most of you know, I've always worked freelance and bounced between bands, so, I'm fine. 'Stay tuned for my 'Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list.' 5 Zak, 59, had been The Who's drummer since their Quadropenia tour in 1996 prior to his sacking Credit: Getty 5 Roger complained abou him on stage Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Massive band hint new tour will be their last as they battle health issues and reveal they can't play iconic venues
FORTY three years after their first farewell to the US, The Who are having another go at a goodbye. And as they announced their second one during a VIP launch of The Song Is Over tour in London yesterday, I fear this really could be the band's final swan song. Advertisement 7 Pete Townshend is set to play huge shows across the States with The Who Credit: Getty 7 The band play Madison Square Garden in 2019 Credit: ©2019 William Snyder Not just for American fans, but us Brits too — with 'I don't want to say that there won't be, but equally I'm not confident in saying there will be,' Roger told me. 'Let's see if we survive this one. I've just finished a solo tour in the UK. 'Touring America is a damn sight easier than touring the UK, because for some reason the UK has decided to make it as difficult as possible to go from A to B.' Advertisement READ MORE ON THE WHO "We played a lot of open-air gigs. We had an insurance problem, which meant that we couldn't play some of the more classic places that one plays on a UK tour. 'But the door is open to us. We could do a week at the O2 or a couple of weeks at the Royal Albert Hall.' Advertisement Most read in Bizarre And his voice is also something he's desperate to protect. Roger said: 'I've been ordered by my voice specialist who said, 'You have to have a day off after every gig. "And then after every three gigs, you have to have two days off. The Who rocker Roger Daltrey performs at his Las Vegas residency "Because otherwise you will wreck your voice and you will not be able to sing'.' Despite the rather gloomy outlook for us Brits, the pair are in good form as they prepare to kick off a 16-date run of shows in Florida on August 16. Advertisement Roger and Pete will then play huge shows across the States, including a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York and two shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. That's before their final night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Tickets will go on sale at 10am next Friday. Fans can expect tracks from their entire back catalogue, with Pete and Roger agreeing that Baba O'Riley and Love, Reign O'er Me will definitely make the cut. As they joked among themselves, after Roger managed to unmute himself on Zoom, Pete reminisced about one of their first trips to the States, to play at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Advertisement He said: 'On the way back, which was kind of more spectacular, I was given a little pill by the Grateful Dead, which was called STP. 'On the plane on the way back, I was looking over at Roger, who looked like an angel, and looking at the air hostess, who looked like a little pig. 'I landed in the UK in the middle of the hippy era and decided not to do drugs any more.' TYLA'S AZTEC SAVVY 7 Tyla wears an Aztec-style top as she launches her new single Credit: Brent McKeever Advertisement TYLA looks quite the golden goddess in this Aztec-style top – as she launches her new single Bliss today. And the singer clearly enjoyed writing her pop banger as much as she did dressing up to promote it. In the chorus she sings: 'You take me to bliss, never found a love like this.' Other tunes released today include Ella Eyre's High On The Internet, Call Me When You Know Better from 5 Seconds of Summer's Calum Hood, and rising soul star Worricka's Love Is Alone. Advertisement Amelia Moore's EP He's Still Just Not That Into You also drops today, along with The Kooks' Never/Know. And, after seven years away, American Boy singer Estelle has announced her album Stay Alta will be out on May 23. ALEX: BLUR MAY GO THE ABBA ROUTE BLUR's Alex James says the Britpop giants are still mulling over their next move – two years after their comeback. Appearing on Ken Bruce's Greatest Hits Radio show, Alex said: 'There's two ways to go either the ABBA thing and stop at the top and just let it take its own course and make avatars of yourself when you were 27 and beautiful. 'Or treat it respectfully and dip in and out occasionally. 'As long as you don't overcook it or annoy the guitar player or singer too much.' BOX BLOW FOR BARRY 7 Barry Keoghan has been forced to give up boxing as he prepares to play Ringo Starr in his Beatles biopic Credit: Getty BARRY KEOGHAN is preparing to take on the role of one of the world's most famous drummers – but the honour has come at a personal cost. Advertisement The Irish actor has been forced to give up boxing as he prepares to play Speaking to Holding up his mitts, he said: 'I cannot do anything with my hands. I don't box any more because of drumming.' Jokingly, Jimmy told Barry: 'I would be worried that somebody at the movie company might carry a hammer or something and go, 'Hey, now we get a cheque?'.' Advertisement Given Barry's got a handy right hook, I doubt anyone would try. Speaking about taking on the role of Ringo, Barry revealed he had met the drummer after being cast in the upcoming film series about the Fab Four, but admitted his nerves got the better of him. Barry said: 'I met Ringo the other day in his house and he played the drums to me. He asked me to play, but I wasn't playing the drums for Ringo. 'It was sort of just one of those moments where you are in awe and I just froze. When I was talking to him, I couldn't look at him. I was nervous.' Advertisement So, no pressure. Barry? HEADS UP FOR LOST ALBUM MOTORHEAD's 'lost' album of never-before-heard material is resurfacing – 49 years after it was recorded. The Manticore Tapes features 11 recordings from the first-ever studio session, featuring the 'three amigos' line-up of Lemmy, 'Fast' Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor. The project, which will be released for the first time on June 27, takes its title from Manticore Studio in Fulham, West London, where it was recorded. Long-time collaborator Cameron Webb has helped recover and restore the material, including instrumentals and demos of songs from their 1979 debut album On Parole. All three rockers are no longer alive. Drummer Phil died in 2015, a month before frontman and bass player Lemmy, above. Guitarist Eddie died in 2018. TOM'S MISSION IN JAPAN 7 Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise is back on the promo trail Credit: Getty 7 He is joined by Hayley Atwell in the run-up to the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Credit: Getty TOM CRUISE and Hayley Atwell are back on the promo trail in the run-up to the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Advertisement They were dressed in black as they kicked off their press tour in The film is the eighth instalment in the franchise and will have its global premiere in London next Thursday, ahead of its release on May 21. BANJO BROS PODCAST UNCOVERED ASHLEY and Jordan Banjo are teaming up with Diversity co-star Perri Kiely for their first podcast, Brothers Uncovered. The show launches on all major platforms today and is then released weekly, with the dance troupe trio playing Would You Rather?, to take on daft dares and share hilarious stories. So, it will be just like being on the Diversity tour bus with them . . . MACY SENDS HER CROWD CRAZY 7 Macy Gray is celebrating 25 years of her debut album Credit: Getty Advertisement The diva is celebrating 25 years of her debut album On How Life Is. She whipped fans up on the first night at Ronnie Scott's in London, ahead of more dates across the UK next month. Her tune Relating To A Psychopath contains the lyrics: 'You are relating to a psychopath, Your role model is therapy, You must be real far gone, You are relating to a psychopath.' But on stage, Macy added a line, singing: 'They say I'm a crazy bitch.' Advertisement She also dedicated part of her show to all the 'psycho bitches' in the audience. Macy, right, shouted: 'Anyone sitting beside a crazy bitch say, 'Woo'.' After some blokes responded, Macy told them: 'You're in trouble now. You were meant to sit there and say nothing.' I wouldn't mess with her. Advertisement WIN GIG TICKETS TO celebrate the return of Concert Week, where music fans can get specially priced tickets to some of this year's hottest gigs, Live Nation have given Bizarre a bunch to give away for FREE. As well as a pair of tickets for Robbie Williams' gig at the Emirates on June 7, we've got two for Nelly and Eve's show at Birmingham's Utilita Arena on June 4. Also up for grabs is a pair of tickets to see rockers Guns N' Roses at Wembley Stadium on June 26, along with two tickets for Iggy Pop at Alexandra Palace on May 28. Plus a pair of tickets to see John Legend at London's O2 Arena on June 1. For a chance to win, visit and click which act you'd like to see. The competition runs every day this week and the winners will be selected at random. If you aren't one of our lucky winners, Live Nation's Concert Week is offering 80,000 tickets from £25, so keep an eye out for promotions. Go to
