Drummer Zak Starkey has been fired from The Who for the second time after a recent medical emergency that left him unable to perform with the band. However, in a statement on Instagram, Starkey claimed he was “fired” despite being reinstated and saying he had quit due to health concerns.
Starkey revealed he had recently suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots but had since made a full recovery. He also expressed his gratitude for fans who stood by him during the challenging period. The drummer stated that he plans to take time off with family, work on his autobiography, and collaborate with Noel Gallagher on a new project.
The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend later clarified that there were “communication issues” within the band but insisted Starkey was not being asked to step down from the group. The North American Farewell Tour is set to kick off on August 16 in Sunrise, Florida.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/05/the-who-zak-starkey-fired-again-asked-say-he-quit-1236403394