Pete Townshend has a easy description of The Who’s turbulent break up with longtime drummer Zak Starkey: “It’s a large number.”
In a brand new interview with i Paper, the legendary guitarist and songwriter opened up in regards to the chaotic sequence of occasions earlier this yr involving Starkey’s firing, rehiring and eventual departure. Starkey, a veteran session and touring drummer, had been a part of The Who’s lineup for almost 30 years.
“I’ll miss Zak terribly. However fairly what the story is, I don’t f—king know. I actually don’t know,” Townsend admitted.
The confusion started in April when Townshend and The Who frontman Roger Daltrey made a “collective resolution” to half methods with Starkey, who’s the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. Days later, Townshend reversed course, stating Starkey was “not being requested” to step down. However only a month later, Townshend once more modified his stance, saying, “The time has come for a change,” signaling the top of their long-running collaboration.
Shortly after, Starkey supplied his personal model of occasions, claiming he hadn’t been “fired” however had as an alternative “retired to work [on] my very own tasks” forward of The Who’s The Tune Is Over farewell tour.
The fallout seems to have been sparked by a misstep through the band’s charity performances for the Teenage Most cancers Belief at London’s Royal Albert Corridor in March.
“[Daltrey] got here in 4 bars early,” Starkey advised Rolling Stone in June. “However he simply bought misplaced. He blamed it on the drums being too loud, after which it bought made into this large social media factor.”
In his interview with i Paper, Townshend addressed the identical efficiency.
“I couldn’t see something unsuitable. What you see is a band who haven’t performed collectively for a very long time. However I feel it was in all probability to do with the sound. I’ve misplaced my sound man because of this,” the long-lasting musician mentioned.
He continued, “I feel Roger simply bought misplaced. Roger’s discovering it troublesome. I’ve to watch out what I say about Roger as a result of he will get indignant if I say something about him in any respect. He’ll be sacking me subsequent. However that’s to not say that he sacked Zak. It’s a call Roger and I attempted to make collectively, but it surely type of bought out of hand.”
Regardless of the turmoil, Starkey says he would return to The Who if requested.
“After all I might,” he advised Rolling Stone. “I mentioned to Pete, ‘Thirty years. Within the 30 years, you set the bar so f—kin’ excessive. What the f—ok do I do now?,’” he mentioned. “The Who, you simply don’t know what’s going to occur. Should you suppose one thing goes to occur, the alternative occurs. Should you second guess Pete, he’ll play the alternative. It’s a must to go together with no matter you’re doing, and never suppose.”