Latest news with #TheWho
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ringo Starr trashes ‘little man' Roger Daltrey for firing son Zak Starkey from The Who
Not letting it be. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Starr's son, Zak Starkey, revealed how his famous father, Ringo Starr, stuck up for him after he was fired from The Who by frontman Roger Daltrey. 'I'm very proud of him standing up for me,' said Starkey, 59. Advertisement 8 Zak Starkey and Ringo Starr at The Box in London in 2016. David M. Benett When asked how the 84-year-old Beatles legend reacted, Starkey replied: 'He said, 'I've never liked the way that little man runs that band.'' Starr appeared to be referring to Daltrey, who had an alleged altercation with Starkey that led to his exit from the band. Advertisement 8 Ringo Starr with his wife Maureen and their baby son Zak in 1965. Getty Images 8 Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey in 1992. Getty Images In April, it was announced that Starkey was leaving The Who after performing with the group for almost 30 years. But Starkey was quickly rehired by The Who, only to be let go from the band, again, in May. 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change,' guitarist Pete Townshend wrote via Instagram on May 18. 'A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' Advertisement 8 Roger Daltrey, Zak Starkey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform in Las Vegas in 2017. Getty Images In the Rolling Stone interview, Starkey gave more context into his firing, which happened after his bandmates were unhappy with his performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in late March. 't was all a bit vague. It was just like, 'You're getting fired,'' Starkey claimed. 'And Pete had to hang in there with Rog because I think it was…I don't know. I'm not going to name names or who did what. But Pete called me and said, 'Are you strong enough to fight for your job back?' I said, 'I'm not strong enough to have you do it for me. I don't want you doing it.'' 8 Zak Starkey and Roger Daltrey of The Who perform in California in 2004. Getty Images Advertisement Starkey said that Townshend, 80, called him a week later and asked him to rejoin the group. 'I got my job back. And then 10 days later, I got a call saying 'It's never going to work. We want you to put out a statement saying you're moving on to do your own thing,'' Starkey explained. 'And I said, 'But I'm f—in' not.' So I just left it and didn't do it. It would be a lie. I'd never leave the Who. I love the Who.' 8 Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey in 1992. Getty Images 8 Roger Daltrey talks to Peter Frampton and Zak Starkey in 1998. AFP via Getty Images Despite his double firings and The Who announcing that drummer Scott Devours will replace Starkey on the band's upcoming farewell tour, Starkey said that he's still unsure where he stands with the group. 'I spoke to Roger last week,' Starkey told Rolling Stone. 'He said, 'Don't take your drums out of the warehouse, we might be calling you.' What the f–k? These guys are f–kin' insane!' 8 Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend perform at The Who's residency in Las Vegas in July 2017. Getty Images Advertisement When asked if he blames Daltrey for the drama, Starkey responded, 'I don't blame anyone. I don't hold any grudges. It's the Who. Weirder sh-t than this has gone down. I've heard them say weirder sh-t than this. It's the Who — the maddest band there's ever been.' Starkey also confirmed that he'd 'of course' return to the band again.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Drummer fired twice from legendary band calls members ‘insane'
Drummer Zak Starkey was fired by The Who, then rehired, then fired again within the span of a month. While Starkey, who has played with the band since 1996, says he still considers Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey family, he does take issue with the reasons they gave for dismissing him from the band. Starkey, who is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey, detailed what led to his firing in a recent interview with The Telegraph. 'What happened was I got it right and Roger got it wrong,' Starkey said, referring to The Who's performance of 'The Song is Over' at the band's second show at Royal Albert Hall in March. A review of the band's March gig in the Metro implied that Daltrey openly bashed Starkey's performance while on stage. While performing 'The Song Is Over,' Daltrey stopped and said, 'To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't. All I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can't sing to that. I'm sorry guys,'' according to the review. However, Starkey told The Telegraph that The Who doesn't typically play the 1971 hit live and didn't rehearse it enough. He also said Daltrey 'took a bit out' of the song because it was too long and came 'in a bar early.' 'I watched the show and I can't find any dropped beats,' Starkey told The Telegraph. 'Then Pete had to go along with it because Pete's had 60 years of arguing with Roger.' The Who kicked Starkey out of the band seven days later. Afterward, Townshend called Starkey to ask if he wanted to fight for his place back. He said no. But a week later, Townshend called again, and Starkey had changed his mind. 'I said, 'I want my gig back,'' Starkey told The Telegraph. The drummer's reunion with The Who was short-lived after he was dropped again just two weeks later. 'It was like, 'Roger says he can't work with you no more, and we'd like you to issue another statement saying you're leaving to do your other projects, and I just didn't do it because I wasn't leaving [of my own volition],' Starkey said. The drummer added that the band's team 'didn't specify' why Daltrey felt he couldn't work with Starkey. The singer later told him that 'you're not fired, you're retired because you've got so many other projects,' according to Starkey. Despite the situation, Starkey regrets how some fans sided with him and slammed Daltrey and Townshend. 'I don't blame anyone. I blame The Who because they're unpredictable, aggressive and (expletive) insane,' he said. Starkey was first fired by The Who in mid-April, two weeks after the second Royal Albert Hall show. The band was said to have 'made a collective decision' to part ways with the drummer, The Sun reported at the time. Starkey, who first joined The Who in 1996, later told Rolling Stone that he was 'surprised and saddened' by his firing, but was grateful for his time with the band. 'I'm very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, 'uncle Keith [Moon]' has been the biggest honor, and I remain their biggest fan. They've been like family to me,' Starkey wrote in the statement. 'Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.' In mid-May, Starkey was fired for the second time prior to The Who's farewell tour. 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak, the time has come for a change. A poignant time,' The Who's Pete Townshend wrote on Instagram on May 18. 'Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' In a counter-statement also posted on Instagram, Starkey called Townshend's announcement a lie. 'I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavors‚" Starkey wrote. 'This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn't make the statement ... quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me ...' Starkey clarified that although he does have other projects, it would not have interfered with the tour and cited other points in time when he would balance both plans, from the 1990s through 2020. 'None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them,' Starkey said. 'The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who — I didn't. I love The Who and everyone in it.' Although the farewell tour was expected to include Starkey, he has already been replaced by Scott Devours. 'The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour' will feature 16 shows, including a concert at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Meanwhile, Starkey is taking time to focus on his other projects, including his band Mantra of the Cosmos. The group includes Shaun Ryder and Bez of the Happy Mondays and Black Grape, and Andy Bell of Oasis and Ride. Rock singer calls brother's claims he sexually abused him 'wildly misleading' Shawn Mendes 2025 tour coming to Boston, where to buy tickets online Green River Festival returns to Greenfield with world-class music lineup Rock band Gov't Mule to open The Big E Arena on 2025 fair's first night Live Wire: Four under-the-radar acts not to miss at Green River Festival Read the original article on MassLive.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Ringo Starr: I've never liked the way that little man runs The Who
Zak Starkey, The Who's former drummer, has claimed his father Ringo called Sir Roger Daltrey a 'little man' over his firing. Starkey, the band's drummer since 1996, was fired, re-hired and fired again last month in a spat sparked by a Royal Albert Hall performance in March, when an agitated Sir Roger was seen on stage complaining that 'all I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom'. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Starkey said after the rift that his father had said: 'I've never liked the way that little man runs the band.' During Starkey's last performance with The Who, Sir Roger paused the band's rendition of The Song is Over after just one verse. He told the crowd: 'To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't. All I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can't sing to that. I'm sorry, guys.' On April 16, Pete Townshend, The Who's guitarist, announced in an Instagram post that Starkey was no longer part of the band. 'After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change,' the post read. 'A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.' But the drummer denied the claim that he had 'retired' to focus on other projects, and insisted he had been fired after the onstage spat with the 5ft 7in frontman. Starkey told Rolling Stone he had been blamed for missing his cue, when in fact Sir Roger had come in 'four bars early' after being unable to hear the piano. 'He came in four bars early. And he just asked for the drums to be turned up, and he couldn't hear the piano,' Starkey said, adding: 'He just got lost. He blamed it on the drums being too loud, and then it got made into this huge social media thing. And it freaked him out.' Starkey said he was told he had 'dropped two beats' – though he could not hear it listening to the film back – was fired, and was told he would be reinstated if he admitted publicly to the mistake. He said: 'So I did. I posted that little toy duck playing the snare drum. Pete [Townshend] called me and said, 'Try again without the duck.' I took the duck out, and I got my job back.' On the band's official social media, Townshend wrote: 'Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up, and he has readily agreed.' He added that Starkey had 'made a few mistakes and he has apologised'. But the drummer said he was informed 10 days later that the reinstatement was ' never going to work ', and was encouraged to put out a statement to say he was moving on of his own accord. Instead, in a lengthy Instagram statement, Starkey said: ' I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavours. This would be a lie. 'I love The Who and would never had [sic] quit…quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me…thru weeks of mayhem.' He told Rolling Stone: 'Just because it's The Who, I'm not going to let you walk all over me. We've had 30 years of great music. But I'm also not going to let it f--- me up. I'm going to tell the truth.' Starkey said he was unsure where he now stands with Townshend and Sir Roger, who embark on a world tour in July. He said: 'I spoke to Roger last week. He said, 'Don't take your drums out of the warehouse, we might be calling you.' What the f---? These guys are f---in' insane! I've been fired more times than Keith Moon in 10 days.' Starkey was a family friend of The Who's late drummer Moon, and was taught to play by Kenney Jones of the Faces – who went on to replace Moon after his death, aged 32, in 1978. Starkey said he did not 'blame anyone' or 'hold grudges', and was focused on his Britpop supergroup venture, Mantra of the Cosmos. The band consists of Shaun Ryder and Mark 'Bez' Berry of Happy Mondays, as well as Andy Bell of Oasis, and has recently featured Noel Gallagher. Starkey previously had a stint with Oasis and said he was 'gutted' not to have been asked to join their reunion tour.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Ringo Starr blasts 'little man' Roger Daltrey for firing his son from The Who
The Who vs The Beatles is not the music beef we anticipated in 2025, but apparently, Ringo Starr isn't a big fan of 'little man' Roger Daltrey. In April, confusion arose when the Hey Jude icon's son – drummer Zak Starkey – was seemingly fired and then rehired. Zak, who is also the godson of original Who drummer Keith Moon, was part of the band for 29 years but tensions backstage appear to have caused a rift. Now, the 59-year-old drummer has revealed exactly what his dad thinks of the Baba O'Riley legends after the whole (bizarre) debacle. 'I've never liked the way that little man runs that band,' was Ringo's assessment, seemingly of Roger, according to Zak. The back and forth has left fans' – and clearly, the drummer's – heads spinning after various contradicting statements about whether or not he had been fired. In the interview with Rolling Stone, Zak revealed he actually spoke to the Pinball Wizard hitmaker the week before the interview. 'He said, 'Don't take your drums out of the warehouse, we might be calling you'. What the f**k?' said the exasperated former Oasis drummer. 'These guys are f**kin' insane! I've been fired more times than Keith Moon in 10 days.' The Who's team declined to comment when Metro reached out. Days before the potential sacking was made public, Roger seemed to kick off at Zak on stage in a moment which was filmed by Metro. During hit song Can You See The Real Me, he stopped singing and guitarist Pete Townshend was forced to fill in for him. After seemingly refusing to continue and putting his head in his hands, the frontman said: 'We've got a big problem up here. I can sing to some things, but I can't sing to that f***ing racket.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't,' he said later in the gig. 'All I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can't sing to that. I'm sorry guys.' Weeks later, a statement was posted which said the band had made a 'collective decision to part ways' with Zak. They added: 'They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.' In return, Zak issued a very amicable statement in which he said: 'Filling the shoes of my Godfather, 'uncle Keith' has been the biggest honour and I remain their biggest fan. 'They've been like family to me. In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running. '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? 'Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.' However, Zak then suggested on his social media that Roger was 'unhappy' with his performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Pete then clarified that Zak was 'not being asked to step down', despite the drummer issuing a statement to the contrary. The entire saga has been deeply confusing for fans, as Zak has been a near constant presence with The Who for almost three decades. The Who's website described him as the band's ''unofficial' official drummer' having performed with them again on many tours, as well as at the London 2012 Olympics, and at the 2010 Super Bowl. It's unclear whether Zak is planning to rejoin the group or not, especially with an Oasis tour around the corner, which could be looking for a drummer. More Trending However, a source previously told NME that the lineup would see American musician Joey Waronker on drums – no Tony McCarroll or Alan White in sight. Zak drummed for the band in the mid-00s, while still being called upon for Who recording sessions. He left in 2008, the year before Oasis' fateful fallout, which tore apart the Gallagher brothers until now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: The Who legend Roger Daltrey, 81, reveals boozy knighthood celebrations
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band
Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band originally appeared on Parade. After a whirlwind month of band drama—Zak Starkey, longtime drummer and son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr—is finally setting the record straight about where he stands with The Who. In a candid new interview with The Telegraph, Starkey, 59, says things took a turn following a rare live performance of "The Song Is Over" at the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall earlier this year. "What happened was I got it right and Roger got it wrong," Starkey said of the musical misstep, claiming that frontman Roger Daltrey came in a bar ahead of schedule during the song. Just a week later, Starkey says he got a call from The Who's longtime manager, Bill Curbishley, ousting him from the group. The alleged reason? "Roger says you dropped some beats," Starkey, who has drummed for both The Who and Oasis, recalls being told. But according to the musician, he's reviewed the tape and didn't hear those missing beats. "Then Pete [Townshend] had to go along with it because Pete's had 60 years of arguing with Roger," he added of the alleged incident. The drama with the band didn't stop there, however, with Starkey revealing that he briefly rejoined the group, but only after being pressured to accept blame for the onstage snafu—and spoiler alert, the reunion didn't last long. "It became clear Roger couldn't work with me," he shared. "I don't blame anyone. I blame The Who, because they're unpredictable, aggressive and f--king insane." Even still, Starkey isn't ruling out a return to the group, especially after he says Daltrey, 81, told him to keep his drums on standby. "Don't take your drums out of [The Who's] warehouse yet in case we need you," Starkey says Daltrey told him, with him urging the frontman to let him know should The Who have a change of heart. For now, drummer Scott Devours has taken over, as The Who gears up for their The Song Is Over farewell U.S. tour, kicking off August 16 in Sunrise, Florida. The tour will run through September 28, capping off in Las Vegas, Nevada at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Legendary '90s Rocker Gets Candid About Departure From Band first appeared on Parade on Jun 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
