Just days after Zak Starkey said he was “surprised and saddened” by reports he’d been booted from The Who, Pete Townshend has now come out and said… actually, no. He hasn’t been fired.
The latest twist in this increasingly convoluted rock ‘n’ roll HR drama arrived via Townshend himself, who posted an Instagram update shouting “News flash! Who back Zak!”—which, sure, sounds like a weird bumper sticker, but also kind of settles it.
In a longer post on The Who’s website, Townshend admitted the situation had spiralled. “There have been some communication issues… that needed to be dealt with,” he wrote. “These have been aired happily.” So, no dramatic ousting. No press-release firing. Just a bit of miscommunication, amplified by the internet.
This all kicked off after the band’s Royal Albert Hall shows in March, where Roger Daltrey reportedly called out Starkey mid-set for “overplaying.” Soon after, sources claimed the band had “collectively” decided to part ways with him as previously reported by Blunt Magazine. Starkey responded by thanking fans and hinting that he was out.
Now Townshend says the issue wasn’t about replacing him, but rather asking him to “tighten up” his drumming style to better suit the band’s current setup. Apparently, Starkey agreed—and it’s business as usual again.
Townshend did admit Starkey made “a few mistakes” at the shows, but says those are behind them now. “We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies,” he wrote. Rock’s very own family reunion, basically.
Oh, and in case you were wondering: Scott Devours, Daltrey’s other drummer, was never lined up to replace Starkey. Townshend even apologised to Devours for letting that rumour get legs, promising to buy him “a very long drunk.” Which, honestly, feels like the most Pete Townshend way to say sorry.
So, to recap: Zak’s in. The Who aren’t breaking up. And yes, we’ll be keeping our eyes on the next gig to see if anyone’s mic gets cut mid-fill. Story over (at least for now).
MORE IN Music
