The Who's Roger Daltrey and Zak Starkey: A Tale of Departure and Disagreement
Roger Daltrey of The Who recently addressed the events that led to Zak Starkey's departure from the band. The saga began in April and involved conflicting reports about Starkey's status within the group. Starkey clarified that he had not been fired but had chosen to retire. The situation came to a head after a pair of shows at the Royal Albert Hall, where Starkey's drumming was called into question by Daltrey.
During an interview, Starkey recounted the events that transpired at the Royal Albert Hall shows, highlighting a miscommunication between him and Daltrey during the performance of "The Song is Over." This led to a conversation with band manager Bill Curbishley, who informed Starkey that he would no longer be needed due to perceived mistakes in his drumming.
Daltrey, however, offered a different perspective on the situation, attributing the issues to technical difficulties with the sound setup. He explained that the sub-bass on the drums made it challenging for him to hear and pitch correctly, leading to the onstage confusion. Daltrey expressed disappointment over the way the events were portrayed and emphasized that the band's live setup played a significant role in the misunderstanding.
Despite the turmoil, The Who continued their tour, with Daltrey confirming that it would likely be their last. The band's future remains uncertain following Starkey's departure, as Daltrey and Pete Townshend retain the core identity of The Who. The ongoing tour serves as a testament to the band's enduring legacy, even amidst internal challenges and personnel changes.