
Zak Starkey, son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, says that he is "surprised and saddened" by the circumstances led The Who the suddenly fire him after spending almost three decades of the band.
The group announced they were parting ways with Starkey after they were rumored to be unhappy with his performance at the Royal Albert Hall last month for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows.
Starkey spoke to Rolling Stone about his surprise firing, "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.
"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."
Kenny Chesney's Heart Life Music Tops TWO NY Times Best Seller Lists
Paul Minnich Honors Veterans With New Song 'American Valor'
Watch Lamb of God Rock 'Sepsis' At The Aftershock Festival
Daniel Caesar Performs 'Who Knows' On 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising Exhibit Opens at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Fun Moves Ashore as the Live Loud Fest Makes Port in the Dominican Republic
Tom Morello Caught In The Act In Chicago
Live Loud Fest Cruise: So Much More Than Music
On The Record: Audiophile Releases from A Perfect Circle, Dr. Dre and More
Good Charlotte Get Festive With Cover Of 'Fairytale of New York'
Danko Jones Release New Album 'Leo Rising'
Stryper Release Their New Christmas Album 'The Greatest Gift Of All'
Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts Announce 2026 UK and EU Tour
Stream Yungblud And Aerosmith's New 'One More Time' EP
Guns N' Roses' Live Era '87-'93 Vinyl Set Arrives
Queen Share 50 Years of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Live
The Smashing Pumpkins Deliver 'Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness' 30th Anniversary Editions