Latest news with #farewelltour
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
UK band announce split after 13 years together as they reveal farewell tour
SVALBARD have announced their split after 13 years together. The UK post-metal band will bring their 15-year run to a close with a farewell tour, as well as one final release. 3 The five-piece, who formed in 2011 and are based between Bristol and London, will bow out in 2026 but not before a busy send-off. This November, they'll hit the road for a final UK tour alongside Cage Fight and Knife Bride, with further dates expected in Japan and across Europe. A last single will also arrive before they disband. Singer and guitarist Serena Cherry spoke exclusively to Metal Hammer about the decision to end things on a high note. She said: 'We've always been an all-or-nothing band. And even though it's utterly heartbreaking, we have accepted that our musical journey together is reaching its end. We have one song left within us as a band. We want to finish on a decisive high, having released four albums that we are 100 percent proud of. 'There is no animosity between band members and we wanted to give the band a proper send-off, with a final UK tour and final shows all over the world coming in 2026. It means a lot to us that we can give Svalbard one last year before we musically go our separate ways.' Serena started the band with guitarist and vocalist Liam Phelan in 2011. Their debut, One Day All This Will End, arrived in 2015, and they quickly gained a reputation for combining post-hardcore, post-metal and black metal with emotionally raw, socially conscious lyrics. Over the years, Serena's writing has taken on subjects like rape culture, mental illness and late-stage capitalism, earning the band a loyal fanbase. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, she explained her direct approach, saying: 'It was a very deliberate choice to be as lyrically direct as possible. SVALBARD - To Wilt Beneath The Weight, OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO "You could listen to a song by most metal bands and it might be about depression or something political but, dressed up in prose and poetry, that message becomes obscured. "If you say something as concisely as possible, you can reach as many people as possible.' Their third album When I Die, Will I Get Better? was hailed by Metal Hammer as 'the most important British metal record of 2020'. Their fourth and final LP, 2023's The Weight Of The Mask received similar acclaim. Svalbard have supported heavyweights like Enslaved, Alcest and Cult Of Luna, and appeared at festivals including Hellfest, Summer Breeze, Arctangent and 2000 Trees. They're also due to make their debut at Download Festival this summer, with a slot booked for Friday, June 13. 3 3
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I was fired': Drummer for legendary rock band refused to say he quit before farewell tour
A legendary rock band has fired its drummer for a second time prior to its farewell tour. The Who's guitarist, Pete Townshend, announced the split on Sunday via Instagram, stating that Starkey would not be joining the band for their 'The Song is Over North America Farewell Tour.' 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change. A poignant time,' Townshend wrote on Instagram. 'Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' In a counter-statement also posted on Instagram, Starkey called Townshend's announcement a lie. '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‚" Starkey wrote. 'This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn't make the statement... quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me...' Starkey clarified that although he does have other projects, it would not have interfered with the tour and cited other points in time when he would balance both plans, from the 1990s through 2020. 'None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them,' Starkey said. 'The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who-I didn't. I love The Who and everyone in it.' Starkey was initially fired in April following a 'huge fall out' that originated during The Who's two Royal Albert Hall shows in March, according to The Sun. A review of the band's March gig in the Metro implied that Daltrey openly bashed Starkey's performance while on stage. While performing 'The Song Is Over,' Daltrey stopped and said, '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,'' according to the review. Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey said in a statement to Rolling Stone in April that he was 'surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night.' The drummer even said his playing has been unaffected by 'a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf' that he experienced in January. Starkey returned to The Who shortly after the initial announcement in April; the band cited 'communication issues' as the reason for his leave, according to a statement from The Who. Although the farewell tour was expected to have Starkey in it, a replacement has already been found. 'Scott Devours who has worked with Roger's solo band will join The Who for our Final shows,' Townshend said on Instagram. 'Please welcome him.' 'The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour' will feature 16 shows, including a concert at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, Aug. 26. A full list of shows is below: Aug. 16 — Sunrise, Florida at Amerant Bank Arena Aug. 19 — Newark, New Jersey at Prudential Center Aug. 21 — Philadelphia, Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center Aug. 23 — Atlantic City, New Jersey at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall Aug. 26 — Boston, Massachusetts at Fenway Park Aug. 28 — Wantagh, New York at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Aug. 30 — New York City, New York at Madison Square Garden Sept. 2 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada at Budweiser Stage Sept. 4 — Toronto, Ontario, Canada at Budweiser Stage Sept. 7 — Chicago, Illinois at United Center Sept. 17 — Los Angeles, California at Hollywood Bowl Sept. 19 — Los Angeles, California at Hollywood Bowl Sept. 21 — Mountain View, California at Shoreline Amphitheatre Sept. 23 — Vancouver, British Columbia at Rogers Arena Sept. 25 — Seattle, Washington at Climate Pledge Arena Sept. 28 — Las Vegas, Nevada at MGM Grand Garden Arena Lynnfield man found dead in apartment played semi-pro football Mass. casino winner: $1 bet ends in jackpot win Meet the Mass. lawmaker marshaling the resistance to Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Worcester councilor slams ICE protesters, says they should have helped children Man struck by car in Lowell to be missed by friends in boxing, music industries Read the original article on MassLive.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Who's final US shows under threat as Roger Daltrey is left unimpressed with Pete Townshend after sacking Zak Starkey for a second time
Is the Who's 'farewell' tour of the US already under threat? First, the drummer Zak Starkey, 59, was kicked out of the veteran rock group for the second time in a month. Now, Roger Daltrey, 81, has said he wasn't impressed by Pete Townshend's remark that being in the band after 61 years is like 'flogging a dead horse'. He said: 'If Pete doesn't want to tour, I don't want to be back with The Who on the road, at 81, with someone who doesn't want be there — if that's what he's saying. 'I won't do it with someone who is half-hearted about it. But, you know, every dog has its day and it was a wonderful ride.' In a recent interview with Sunday People, Pete, 80, had said: 'The Who has gone on a bit too long with two of us dying. It does sometimes feel like flogging a dead horse.' Just days ago it was revealed their drummer Zak had been fired from the band for a second time, just one month after he was sacked then quickly reinstated. Guitarist Pete announced that Zak, the Who's drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band in an update to Instagram. Zak's sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums. The statement read: 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' In a second post, Pete and Roger Daltrey added: 'The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. 'He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. 'Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger's solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey'. Zak has since claimed his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band. Resharing The Who's post, Zak hit back: 'I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. 'I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn't make the statement ….quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going 'in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x 'To clarify 'other projects' yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7' Zak continued to list his other previous projects before adding: 'Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. 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.' It comes weeks after The Who shared the shock news that they will be retiring from touring after 60 years, following a final run of shows in the US later this year. The legendary rock band shared the news at a London press conference as they announced their farewell tour, which will kick off in July. Zak has since claimed his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band The news comes just weeks after Roger and Pete made a shock U-turn to welcome drummer Zak back into the band, after he was sacked following a bitter fallout. While announcing the band's retirement, Pete made the shock confession: 'Everyone needs to know the truth…. I can't lie…. I am not crazy about touring.' Meanwhile Roger who appeared via video link, said: 'It will have to come to an end one day.' The Who are set to play 16 shows in the US, and insiders have told The Mirror they hope the tour will be extended to include dates in Europe and the UK. Roger went onto add: 'Pete (Townshend) is still playing great guitar, the music's still got the vitality that suits it, because it's something about the way Pete's music is written, the way it's shaped, the sentiment behind it, it doesn't seem to age like a lot of rock music does.' 'Us out there performing for the last time is a thank you for fans.' He went onto cast doubt over whether the tour could be extended to the UK, saying: 'Let's see if we survive this one. 'Touring America is a damn sight easier than touring the UK, because, for some reason or the other, the UK has decided to make it as difficult as possible to go from A to B.' 'In America, you seem to want to make it as easy as possible. I don't want to say that there won't be, but equally I'm not confident in saying there will be.' The hitmaker added that he has a scheduled day off between each of the shows on the advice of his throat specialist, having previously had growths removed from his vocal cords back in 2009. Roger added: 'I can't do consecutive shows. At the end of the tour I might be able to do two back to back. 'I've been ordered by my throat specialist, (who would) say ''You have to have a day off after every gig, and then after every three gigs you have to have two days off, because otherwise you will wreck your voice and you will not be able to sing''.' 'Every musician's dream in the early 60's was to make it big in the US charts. For the Who, that dream came true in 1967 and our lives were changed forever. 'The warmth of the American audiences over the years have been inspirational to me, and reflect the feeling I remember getting after hearing the first rock records coming across the radio. Musical freedom! 'Rock gave us a feeling of generational rebellion. To me, America has always been great. The cultural differences had a huge impact on me, this was the land of the possible.' Reflecting on their decision to bid farewell to touring, Roger added: 'It's not easy to end the big part of my life that touring with The Who has been. Thanks for being there for us and look forward to seeing you one last time.' Pete commented: 'Well, all good things must come to an end. It is a poignant time. 'For me, playing to American audiences and those in Canada has always been incredible. The warmth and engagement of those audiences began back in 1967 with hippies smoking dope, sitting on their blankets and listening deeply and intensely. 'Music was everywhere. We all felt equal. Today, Roger and I still carry the banner for the late Keith Moon and John Entwistle and of course, all of our longtime Who fans. 'I must say that although the road has not always been enjoyable for me, it is usually easy: the best job I could ever have had. I keep coming back. 'Every time I do, I meet new fans and feel new energy. Roger and I are in a good place, despite our age, eager to throw our weight behind this fond farewell to all our faithful fans, and hopefully to new ones who might jump in to see what they have been missing for the last 57 years. 'This tour will be about fond memories, love and laughter. Make sure you join in.' Last month, Zak was welcomed back into the band after Roger and Pete made the shock move to sack him. The pair had reportedly sacked the drummer after a 'huge fall out' happened after the band's two recent gigs at the Royal Albert Hall last month. However, the musicians have now confirmed Zak is firmly still in the band and hasn't been asked to leave. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, with an official statement they penned: 'He's 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, and these have been aired happily.' Sources allegedly claimed that there were question marks over Zak's drumming at the shows last month. Addressing this, the statement continued: 'Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed. I take responsibility for some of the confusion. 'Our TCT [Teenage Cancer Trust] 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 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. 'We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It's over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.' Addressing another rumour, Pete added: 'As for Roger, fans can enjoy his forthcoming solo shows with his fabulous drummer, Scott Devours, who it was rumoured might replace Zak in The Who and has always been supportive of the band. 'I owe Scott an apology for not crushing that rumour before it spread. He has been hurt by this. I promise to buy him a very long drink and give him a hug.' Zak also responded to the post as he penned: 'V grateful to be a part of The Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.' A spokesperson had previously announced the news of Zak's exit from the band by saying: 'The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. 'They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.' However a spokesperson for Zak then hinted that when things settle down there would be 'light at the end of the tunnel' and described the row as a 'typical rock'n' roll fall out'. They said: 'Healing can take time! Zak is without doubt one of the UK's greatest drummers and to questions his drumming ability and performance, is in my mind a musical insult. 'He has exceptional timing, rhythmic drive, and had created a solid foundation for The Who and I feel his godfather Keith Moon would only be too proud of Zak taking his seat. 'I'm sure there will be some light at the end of the tunnel when things settle down. Hey, it's only rock'n'roll but we love it!' Zak, who was planning to take 'much needed time off with his family', was said to be 'saddened and surprised' over the decision to sack him after his long career in the band. According to The Mirror, Zak said in a statement: '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? 'I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.' The insider went on to add: 'It's a little acrimonious to say the least.' While fans were loving the shows, which were in honour of Roger's Teenage Cancer Trust charity, a source claimed there were a 'few issues with the the standard wasn't as high as everyone wanted'. However, a different source noted that 'extremely talented' Zak's departure was sure to rock the band, with his axing not making 'any sense'. Zak is the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey Tigrett. Back in January, Zak said he feared he would die as he spoke for the first time since he cancelled gigs after he was diagnosed with a blood clot. Zak had been set to take the stage with his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos - including Happy Mondays vocalist Shaun Ryder, 62, Oasis guitarist Andy Bell, 54, percussionist Mark ' Bez ' Berry, 60, and Noel Gallagher, 57, - when he received the alarming health alert. It lead to him to withdraw from a London gig, hours ahead of showtime. He has since revealed that the blood clot in his right leg has forced him to rest for two weeks on doctors orders, and he has been prescribed blood thinners for the hazardous health condition. Zak told MailOnline: 'At first I thought maybe I just pulled a hamstring or something because that's where the pain started on the knee and then the MRI scan showed nothing and then an ultrasound showed it the next day. 'So we had to pull the gig and I was told to go home straight away. I'm on blood thinners and that should move it you know but it wasn't ideal news. 'I am a little bit worried but they said a couple of weeks should be alright. It should be able to dissipate but there is a worry if you move it too much and it hits something major. 'If it hits your lungs or your heart or your brain you're in deep sh**. Or deep earth.'
Sky News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
The Who drummer sacked from band for second time in a month
The Who's drummer Zak Starkey has been sacked by the band, marking the second time he has left in the past month. The band's guitarist Pete Townshend made a statement on Instagram on Sunday, saying: "After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. "A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best." The announcement comes weeks before the iconic British rock group's farewell tour. In response, Starkey, who had been a band member since 1996, said in an Instagram post he would "never have quit" and had experienced "weeks of mayhem". "I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit to follow my other musical endeavours," 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 all this madness." Reports surfaced in April that the band had taken the "collective decision" to sack Starkey after a row over their Teenage Cancer Trust shows in March. A review of one gig, published in the Metro, suggested frontman Roger Daltrey, who launched the annual gig series for the charity in 2000, had been "frustrated" with the drumming during some tracks. According to the review, Daltrey at one point paused a song and said: "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." At the time, the 59-year-old drummer said he was "surprised and saddened" by news of his sacking. Three days after the reports came out, a statement on the band's official social media pages titled "News Flash! Who Backs Zak," said he was "not being asked to step down from The Who". In it, Townshend 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. "Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up and he has readily agreed." Later in the lengthy statement, he said regarding the gigs: "Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised." At that point, Starkey - who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr - reposted Townshend's statement, with the message: "V grateful to be a part of the Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx". Starkey also drums for supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos - along with fellow musicians Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays, and Andy Bell of Ride and Oasis - and has previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Who fire drummer Zak Starkey (again)
The Who have fired longtime drummer Zak Starkey again, just two weeks after reinstating him ahead of their farewell tour announcement. Guitarist Pete Townshend announced the news on social media, stating that "the time has come for a change" and that Starkey has "lots of new projects in hand." Starkey, son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, expressed his disappointment, claiming he was asked to say he was quitting instead of being fired, which he refused to do. This follows a previous firing in April over a dispute about his performance at the Royal Albert Hall, after which he was reinstated. Scott Devours, who has worked with Roger Daltrey 's solo band, will replace Starkey.
