Pete Townshend, 79, Reveals Explosive Update on Feud With The Who’s Drummer: Drama Escalates Fast!

Initially, the band announced their separation from Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, due to concerns about his performance during a Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall in March.

Nevertheless, Townshend has since clarified that Starkey will continue as a band member.

“News Flash! Who Zak Back! Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who,” the guitarist and vocalist announced on Saturday.

Townshend confirmed that The Who drummer Zak Starkey remains a part of the band

The guitarist explained that there were “communication issues, personal and private on all sides” that needed resolution but that these issues “have been aired happily.”

This overturns last week’s announcement by a band spokesperson reported by The Mirror, stating they had, “made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall.”

During the concert, lead singer Roger Daltrey openly displayed his frustration, at one point halting the performance to exclaim, “All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that.”

Daltrey further lamented, “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t.”

Sources informed The Mirror that this incident was “the final straw for the band.”

Starkey had reportedly been dropped last week following a performance at the Royal Albert Hall

In his statement, Townshend took responsibility for some of the confusion surrounding the situation.

“Our TCT 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 fully recover from a complete knee replacement,” he explained.

The 79-year-old suggested that insufficient sound checks may have contributed to the issues on stage.

He acknowledged that “Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologized,” yet the problems were exacerbated by his own recovery and stage sound difficulties.

“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.

“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,” Townshend concluded.

News Flash! Who Backs Zak!

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.

Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved… pic.twitter.com/mgfsolGz3s

— The Who (@TheWho) April 19, 2025

Starkey responded to his reinstatement with a brief social media message: “V grateful to be a part of The Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.”

Prior to rejoining, Starkey had expressed his surprise at the criticism of his performance.

“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?” he had stated.

Townshend clarified that he and Daltrey had asked Starkey “to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral lineup.”

According to Townshend, Starkey “has readily agreed” to these adjustments.

Starkey’s performance issues may have been related to health problems he experienced earlier this year.

In January, the drummer suffered what he described as “a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf.”

He had been forced to withdraw from a London gig with his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos just hours before showtime.