As The Who prepares to embark on their North American farewell tour, the 60-year old rock group’s saga with drummer Zak Starkey continues.
Following Starkey’s announced departure last month, and founding member Pete Townshend‘s issued correction, the drummer said on Sunday that he’s been fired from the band once again.
“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical [endeavors],” wrote Starkey on Instagram. “This would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement …. quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x”
Starkey announced in April that he was exiting the band after he “suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf,” which is “now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Following reports that lead singer Roger Daltrey had friction with Starkey during a recent performance in which he couldn’t hear over the drums, Starkey said he was “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,” added Starkey. “29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
Townshend later took to social media to explain that the group has worked through their issues. “News flash! Who back Zak! Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who,” he wrote on Instagram. “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been happily aired.”
Earlier this month, The Who announced the stops for The Song Is Over – North American Farewell Tour, kicking off on Aug. 16 in Sunrise, Florida.
