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New York Post

Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, clarifies the truth about his second firing from The Who

From fired to retired. Drummer Zak Starkey posted a statement on Instagram Monday clearing up the circumstances surrounding his latest exit from The Who. Starkey, 59, claimed that bandmate Roger Daltrey told him he wasn't 'fired' from the group for a second time, but rather 'retired' and free to work on his own projects. Advertisement 8 Zak Starkey of The who performs in Berlin in June 2023. dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images 'NOISE&CONFUSION!!!! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!' Starkey wrote. 'Rog said I hadn't been 'fired'…I had been 'retired' to work n my own projects,' Starkey shared. 'I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future….Rog said 'Oh!' and we kind of left it there.' Advertisement 8 Roger Daltrey, Zak Starkey and Pete Townshend perform in Las Vegas in 2017. Getty Images Starkey insisted that he and Daltrey, 81, are 'on good terms and great friends as we have always been.' 'Gotta love these guys,' the musician added. 'As my mum used to say 'The mind boggles!!!' XXX.' 8 Zak Starkey and Pete Townshend. The Who/Instagram Advertisement Starkey, who is the son of the Beatles legend Ringo Starr, joined The Who in 1996. He was fired from the band for the first time last month following his performance during the group's two charity shows for Teenage Cancer Trust at London's Royal Albert Hall in late March. Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend were allegedly 'upset' with Starkey over the gigs. 8 Zak Starkey and his father Ringo Starr at The Box in London in 2016. David M. Benett Advertisement Starkey spoke out about his blindsided departure, revealing that he 'suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf' in January. But The Who quickly rehired Starkey. Townshend, 80, claimed that the drama had to do with 'some communication issues' that were 'aired happily.' 8 The Who performs in Berlin in June 2023. Redferns Starkey was let go from the band, again, earlier this month. 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change,' Townshend wrote on Instagram. 'A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' Townshend also announced that drummer Scott Devours will replace Starkey on The Who's upcoming farewell tour that starts in August. 8 Zak Starkey of The Who performs during Desert Trip in Indio, California in 2016. Kevin Mazur 8 Zak Starkey performs at The Who's Las Vegas residency in July 2017. Getty Images Advertisement Starkey shared his own statement where he disputed Townshend's reasons for his exit. 'I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavors,' he wrote. 'Not true. I love The Who and would never have quit and let down so many amazing people who stood up for me through this madness.' 8 The Who performs in Austin, Texas on May 3, 2022. Getty Images for The Who Advertisement He also clarified that while he does have 'other projects' that he's working on, none of them have 'ever interfered' with his gig with The Who. 'I love The Who and everyone in it,' Starkey said.