The Who and Zak Starkey Part Ways After Royal Albert Hall Performance

The Who have ended their long-standing collaboration with drummer Zak Starkey, who had been with the band since 1996. The split reportedly stems from a disagreement regarding his performance at their recent concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

A representative for the band indicated that the decision was mutually agreed upon, following their performance for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). The band expressed their respect for Starkey and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Roger Daltrey, the frontman of The Who, is a patron of TCT and previously curated their annual concert series at the London venue. A review of the band's March performance in the Metro suggested that Daltrey voiced his dissatisfaction with Starkey's drumming during the show.

During the final song, "The Song Is Over," Daltrey reportedly paused the performance, stating that he couldn't sing due to the drumming. Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, appeared to anticipate the news. He shared a humorous post on Instagram, referencing the situation.

Starkey's drumming career began when he joined The Who full-time during their 1996 Quadrophenia tour. He was introduced to drumming by Keith Moon, the original drummer of The Who, who gifted him a drum kit. Starkey has also collaborated with various other artists.