The Who parts ways with longtime drummer Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr

The Who have parted ways with their longtime drummer Zak Starkey, who had been with the band since 1996. Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, was introduced to drumming by The Who’s original drummer, Keith Moon. He has also played with prominent acts including Oasis, Johnny Marr, and the Lightning Seeds. He is currently involved with the supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos.​

The split reportedly stems from dissatisfaction with Starkey's performance during a Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2025. During the performance, lead singer Roger Daltrey criticized the drumming, suggesting it hindered his ability to perform. Starkey acknowledged the tension in a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post, humorously referencing Daltrey's dissatisfaction. Despite the ending of his nearly three-decade tenure with The Who, the band expressed admiration for Starkey and extended their best wishes for his future endeavors.

"I’m very proud of my near 30 years with The Who," Starkey said in a statement on Wednesday, April 16. "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."

He added: "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."

The split reportedly stems from dissatisfaction with Starkey's performance during a Teenage Cancer Trust concert at the Royal Albert Hall in March 2025. During the performance, lead singer Roger Daltrey criticized the drumming, suggesting it hindered his ability to perform. Starkey acknowledged the tension in a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post, humorously referencing Daltrey's dissatisfaction. Despite the ending of his nearly three-decade tenure with The Who, the band expressed admiration for Starkey and extended their best wishes for his future endeavors .