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This song is over: the Who fire drummer Zak Starkey

The Guardian

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April 17, 2025

The Who have parted ways with Zak Starkey, the band's drummer since 1996, apparently over a disagreement about his playing at their Royal Albert Hall gig for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) last month.

- Laura Snapes

This song is over: the Who fire drummer Zak Starkey

A representative for the band suggested that the decision was a mutual one.

"The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall," they said. "They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future."

The Who's Roger Daltrey is a patron of TCT and until 2024 acted as curator for their annual gig series at the London venue.

A review in the Metro of the band's March gig suggested that Daltrey was complaining onstage about Starkey's performance.

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