The Who Sack Drummer Zak Starkey (Ringo’s Son), After Decades

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Roger Daltrey and Zak Starkey during The Who’s concert at Royal Albert Hall on March 27, 2025.

The Who have parted ways with their longtime touring drummer, Zak Starkey. The news arrived today (April 15, 2025) and comes just weeks after the band gave a pair of performances at the annual Teenage Cancer Trust benefit concerts on March 27 and 30 in London. Starkey, 59, is the eldest child of Ringo Starr and his late, former wife, Maureen. The news of his sacking was first reported by The Mirror, which quoted an unnamed spokesman: “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

The same insider also said to The Mirror, “It’s a little acrimonious to say the least.”

In one of classic rock’s great stories, The Who’s founding drummer, Keith Moon, gifted Starkey, his godson, with his first drum kit. Moon was the group’s founding drummer in 1964 and remained until he died at age 32 in 1978. He was soon replaced by Faces alum Kenney Jones for several albums and tours. Starkey has performed and recorded with The Who since 1996, initially joining them for their tour to once again celebrate Quadrophenia, decades after its release. Though they have recorded very little in that time, and taken significant periods off in between tours, Starkey, theoretically anyway, more than doubled Moon’s tenure with the group.

Watch Starkey perform a pair of favorites from Quadrophenia with The Who at Royal Albert Hall in March 2025

He was behind the kit for such high profile performances as their phenomenal set at The Concert For New York City in 2001 and their 2010 halftime performance in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV. Starkey has also served as drummer for Oasis and was said to be rumored to be performing at the group’s big 2025 reunion tour.

Other than the pair of March concerts in London, The Who have only announced two other concerts for this year. Both are in Italy in August.