February 23, 2023
Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece
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February 23, 2023
HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.
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February 21, 2023
Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe
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February 21, 2023
Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...
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February 20, 2023
Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im
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February 23, 2023
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s
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February 18, 2023
Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has
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February 17, 2023
What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the
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February 14, 2023
The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close
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February 14, 2023
What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...
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February 8, 2023
Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.
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February 8, 2023
“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are
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The ‘Saga’ in a Nutshell
In April 2025, The Who unexpectedly fired long‑time drummer Zak Starkey during a Royal Albert Hall show, reportedly over performance issues. Starkey, son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, had been playing with the band since 1996.
Days after, Pete Townshend, the guitarist, announced that Starkey was being reinstated, citing “communication issues” as the reason for the split. But then on May 18, The Who made it official again; Starkey was replaced by Scott Devours, the drummer for Roger Daltrey’s solo project, ahead of their final North American Farewell tour.
What the Band Says
Townshend admitted he himself didn’t hear any glaring performance flaws, suggesting the real issue might have been poor sound monitoring on stage, not Zak’s technique. He also expressed regret, saying:
“I couldn’t see anything wrong … I have to be careful what I say about Roger because he gets angry… But quite what the story is, I don’t f**king know.”- Pete Townshend
Zak Starkey’s Perspective
In a defiant Instagram post, Starkey insisted he was fired, not retired, and rejected the band’s request for him to say otherwise. He emphasized he had no touring conflicts and was fully available for their fall schedule. He also lamented being asked to claim he left to pursue solo projects…a narrative he simply did not agree with.
Roger Daltrey Speaks Out
Daltrey has since dismissed Starkey’s comments as “character assasination” and clarified that only he and Townshend are permanent members of the band; everyone else is considered a session or touring musician. He also reiterated that Starkey was “retired” voluntarily, not fired.
What’s Really Going On
This back-and-forth is more than just band drama; it exposes how legacy bands operate behind the scenes. When egos, decades of history, and tight touring deadlines collide, things get messy.
What’s fascinating is the conflicting messaging: Starkey insists he was pushed out, Townshend seems confused, and Daltrey is drawing hard boundaries. It raises the question:
In legendary bands, is anyone ever truly “fired”? Or just silently faded out?
Final Take
Zak Starkey’s confusing firing and then re-firing from The Who pulls back the curtain on how complicated band dynamics can get. Despite the public statements, it’s clear there are deeper tensions behind the scenes. And what’s most surprising? Even the band members themselves don’t seem to fully agree on what happened.
In the end, this isn’t just a story about a drummer losing a gig. It’s about how even the most legendary acts struggle with communication, creative friction, and the messy business of letting go.
Whether you believe Zak was fired, retired, or something in between, one thing’s for sure: the beat goes on but maybe with a little more drama than we realize.
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