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Zak Starkey, who has been drumming for The Who since 1996, has been let go by the band for a second time. This announcement comes just a month after he was initially dismissed and then quickly brought back, following a public fallout with frontman Roger Daltrey during a Teenage Cancer Trust performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Guitarist Pete Townshend shared the news of Starkey’s second dismissal on social media, stating, “After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change. It’s a poignant moment. Zak has numerous new projects lined up, and I wish him all the best.”
In response, Starkey expressed, “I was released two weeks after being reinstated and was asked to issue a statement claiming I had quit The Who to focus on my other musical pursuits. This would not be truthful. I have immense love for The Who and would never simply walk away.”
“Thus, I didn’t make the statement because quitting The Who would also mean letting down the countless amazing individuals who supported me (thank you all a million times over and more) through the chaos of my ‘in and out’ situation. To clarify on ‘other projects’, yes, I do have other projects and always have.”
Starkey elaborated on these projects in detail, adding, “None of this has interfered with The Who and was never an issue for them. The lie would have been claiming I quit The Who—I didn’t. I love The Who and everyone involved.”
This news of Starkey’s dismissal comes just two weeks after The Who announced their farewell tour across America during a press conference at the Iconic Gallery in London. Full dates are listed below.
The tour will feature support acts including Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, ZZ Ward, Booker T. Jones, The Joe Perry Project, Feist, Tom Cochrane, Joe Bonamassa, Candlebox, and Billy Idol.
The Who: The Song Is Over Tour 2025
Aug 16: Sunrise Amerant Bank Arena, FL =
Aug 19: Newark Prudential Center, NJ =
Aug 21: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA ^
Aug 23: Atlantic City Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, NJ +
Aug 26: Boston Fenway Park, MA ¶
Aug 28: Wantagh Northwell at Jones Beach Theater, NY º
Aug 30: New York Madison Square Garden, NY º
Sep 02: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON >
Sep 04: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON >
Sep 07: Chicago United Center, IL <
Sep 09: Chicago United Center, IL <
Sep 17: Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, CA ¶
Sep 19: Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, CA ¶
Sep 21: Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre, CA ¢
Sep 23: Vancouver Rogers Arena, BC ¢
Sep 25: Seattle Climate Pledge Arena, WA ¢
Sep 28: Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, NV ø
= with Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters
^ with ZZ Ward
+ with Booker T. Jones
¶ with The Joe Perry Project
º with Feist
> with Tom Cochrane
< with Joe Bonamassa
¢ with Candlebox
ø with Billy Idol
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