And dat's dat.
After 30 years of remarkable service, The Who have fired Zak Starkey. For the last 30 years, I've maintained that The Who, though only Daltrey and Townshend at this point, were still an exciting live act, because Zak Starkey often channeled Keith Moon. "Uncle Keith" gave an 8 year old Zak his drum kit and more than a few pointers, and years later, it showed. And just like that, after a few extra "boom boom booms" that rubbed Roger the wrong way during a recent performance of "The Song Is Over," Zak is pink slipped.
Boo Who.
I really don't understand this. It can't be over just because of the 2 shows at RAH.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was, if Roger can't hear the melody it might be his hearing, not the drumming....
ReplyDeleteOf course it's the drummer's fault :-) You've written about this occasionally.
ReplyDelete- Paul in DK
Of course!!
DeleteHey -- it's not like they haven't goofed on this area previously, i.e. Kenny Jones.😎
ReplyDeleteI think Kenney Jones got a raw deal. Those two studio albums had crap material. If you listen to live shows from 1979, Jones is pretty damn good. Different than Moon, of course, but really solid.
DeleteHis autobiography made me a believer. He did way more than be the drummer in 2 HOF B invasion first wave
DeleteMaybe Daltry is getting a little senile?
ReplyDeleteSoon to be senile "Captain Al"
Seems a bit of a mess. Some of the footage is here: https://metro.co.uk/2025/04/15/sack-key-member-decades-following-huge-fall-out-royal-albert-hall-gig-22914774/
ReplyDeleteRoger forgot the arrangement.
DeleteBoo Who's Next?
ReplyDeleteRandy
All I can say is that I regrettably read Pete's autobiography last Fall, which only confirmed all my worst suspicions. The Who has been gone since "Who's Next".
ReplyDeleteThat picture says it all.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know, but I saw them a couple of times on the orchestra tours and I thought everything sounded great.
Agree with your assessment about Kenney. Watching old Faces concert footage and it’s good stuff (and Ronnie Lane’s bass fit in so well!).
I agree with Kevin M. How can a couple of gigs be the problem. I'm thinking he was sleeping with Roger's wife.
ReplyDelete"The Who has been gone since "Who's Next".
ReplyDeleteAw c'mon, BBJ. Don't be "that guy." "Quadrophenia" and "By Numbers" are both 4-star records, and half of "Who Are You" is excellent. I think both Pete & Rog, 80 and 81 respectively, have turned into Waldorf & Astoria, the two old cranky Muppets. They need to probably retire from the road and make a nice acoustic record.
I apologize for really being "that guy". It's at that point, in his memoir, from "Lifehouse" on, that I became no longer interested in what he was saying.
DeleteFair enough. I didn't like his book, so I get it. But I'm not gonna take it out on those amazing records.
DeleteThey have been a mediocre act for the last 25 years. Old and in the way.They should sit back and collect royalties. Nostalgia has it's limits
ReplyDeleteThat is just not true.
DeleteNo no they are a great live act , Starkey and Palladino were really on it, the shows I saw. Still a thrill to see Pete play. And Endless Wire is a pretty fine. record, I think. 'God speaks of Marty Robbins' slays me every time.
DeleteI believe Townsend was somehow expecting Jones, the wild-ass drummer for Small Faces in the groovy times, but he'd moved on stylistically, just a natural process probably. He just wasn't that kind of musician anymore. But still solid as a rock, of course.
At least Zac didn't explode, or choke on someone's vomit......
ReplyDeleteTell that to Wilko Johnson.
ReplyDeleteAt least Zak Starkey's Instagram post was pointed & v funny. Wonder what his old man makes of it all? Cheers!
ReplyDeletetoo bad clem burke just passed! nobody out mooned him
ReplyDeleterip cb
cheers
It's a sad departure for Zak. I always thought he was such a great fit with the band. And mediocre my ass. They've put on some spectacular shows the past 25 years and Zak was a big part of that dynamic.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Pete Best is smiling?
ReplyDeleteI've seen The Who 6 times and Daltrey solo twice since 1989. In every single show, Daltrey has complained about the monitors, messed with his ear pieces, and even pulled them out multiple times each show. His hearing was blown out in the 70's, he was surrounded by lunatics playing at maximum volume!! And on The Song is Over, gee the drums do kick in pretty hard! Zak has been great all along. Just silliness. they should have had a Zoom with Ringo to spread a little peace and love.
ReplyDeleteBryan
that was me!
ReplyDeleteI only got to see the Who once, and that was ten years ago, with Zak. Hearing him play was made even more exciting by seeing Alan Rogan at the side of the stage with Pete's guitars.
ReplyDeleteRoger's always been a little moody and particular, and Zak's always been a little nutty. So it goes. I don't know who they'll get next, since Simon Phillips probably won't pass muster.
"AI" will do the drumming for The WHO from now on!
ReplyDeleteCaptain Al
It's funny because I admire Pete's work so very very much, but I don't know anyone who has aged into more of an old crank than him. And Roger, of course, was never anyone's idea of a visionary. It feels like they've fired the lifeblood of the band at this point. What a sad thing.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/OxsQQspxp-0?si=_zjsMNo9t3IhLET2
ReplyDeleteFrom someone at the show. :)
Aw man! If I had to guess about what's happening here, I tend to think this is Roger being completely frustrated - understandably - with apparently losing both his hearing and sight, and taking that out on Zak.
ReplyDeleteMaybe something extra added to it - kind of like Fleetwood Mac where there was also some tiff offstage that has nothing to do with music - and he lashed out.
Then Pete - whom I haven't heard about desparing over Zak's playing - has to decide if he'll back his original mate or the 3-decades drummer, and in that it's an easy decision. (Kind of like Mick Fleetwood backing Stevie.)
Whatever the reason though, it's sad.
Very interesting video posted by anonymous by a guy at the show who thinks the problem's all with the in-ear monitors, not Zak.
Zak is back!
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/fNyC-YSJUfo?si=PDKsejLDQP622-vn
:)
I love seeing Pete's post on the Who website that, apparently, Zak is back.
ReplyDeleteRumor has it that The Who will announce (another) farewell tour tomorrow. Going to be called The Song Is Over Tour
ReplyDeleteSo Zak has been fired again. What the heck is going on with these guys. And sorry, not paying $700 for a pair in back of the 100 section at MSG. I'll wait until prices drop closer to the concert date
ReplyDeleteApparently, Zak was fired and was told to say it was his choice. I wasn't paying $700 with Zak. I have no desire now without Zak.
Delete