The Who’s Zak Starkey is back in the band after a dramatic u-turn by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.
The band had said that they were parting company with the drummer earlier this week. The Mirror broke the news that he was sacked saying that there were concerns over his drumming at a Teenage Cancer Trust show. But Townshend said they had now welcomed Zak back in the fold
Townshend said: “He’s not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.
“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. I take responsibility for some of the confusion. Our TCT shows at the Royal Albert Hall were a little tricky for me. I thought that four and a half weeks would be enough time to recover completely from having a complete knee replacement. (Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?) Wrong!
“Maybe we didn’t put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage. The sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with. Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer.
“We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It’s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.
“As for Roger, fans can enjoy his forthcoming solo shows with his fabulous drummer, Scott Devours, who it was rumoured might replace Zak in The Who and has always been supportive of the band. I owe Scott an apology for not crushing that rumour before it spread. He has been hurt by this. I promise to buy him a very long drink and give him a hug.”
The u-turn comes as sources claim the band were shocked by the reaction of fans to the news that Zak was being ousted. A source claimed: “They were taken aback by the level of feeling.”
Zak had earlier said he was “surprised and saddened” that anyone would question his performance at the Royal Albert Hall in March which came under the spotlight.
Zak said at the time: “I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honor 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.”
He added: “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? I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
Zak has been The Who’s full-time drummer since their Quadrophenia Tour in 1996. A spokesperson for The Who said on Tuesday: “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.”
An insider told the Mirror at the time: “It’s a little acrimonious to say the least.”
Now details of that gig have emerged including how the front man threw his hands up to complain and repeatedly stopped the March 30 gig. At one point Daltrey complained: “All I’ve got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can’t sing to that” He added during the show: “To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can’t.” At another moment, he complained: Roger said, ‘It was going so well… I can sing in any f***ing key you want, but I need to hear which one.”
An insider said: “It was the final straw for the band and they knew they had to pull the plug. It’s a shame but it is what it is.”
In 2004, Zak joined Oasis, filling a void left by long-time member Alan White’s departure. The band split in 2009. He was rumoured to be involved in the upcoming Oasis reunion. The Mirror revealed last August how Zak was banned from staying at a Victorian manor house on Airbnb after he let slip he was planning a party.
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