THE WHO’s longtime touring drummer Zak Starkey is officially out — again — and the story surrounding his departure is becoming more dramatic by the day.
It all began on April 16, when THE WHO announced that Starkey, who has played with the band since 1996, was no longer part of the lineup. Just three days later, the band appeared to walk back the news, blaming “communication issues” and stating that Starkey would continue with them.
That temporary truce didn’t last.
On May 17, guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram to share a new, seemingly final statement. “After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change. A poignant time,” he wrote. “Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best. Scott Devours, who has worked with Roger’s solo band, will join THE WHO for our final shows. Please welcome him.”
While Townshend’s message might have seemed like a graceful send-off, Starkey quickly countered with a post of his own — and it painted a very different picture.
“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit THE TWO to pursue my other musical endeavors,” Starkey wrote. “This would be a lie. I love THE WHO and would never had quit.”
He continued: “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.’”
With both sides having spoken, one thing is now clear: Starkey is no longer behind the kit for THE WHO, and Scott Devours will be taking over as drummer for their upcoming farewell tour, which is scheduled to kick off this August.
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