.png)
February 6, 2023
SG Lewis (Samuel George Lewis) is a rising star in the dance/electronic music realm. He is a DJ/producer turned singer-songwriter, and is known for his disco-inspired, transcendent sound. He routinely
Read more
February 4, 2023
Sam Smith just released their new album “Gloria” on the 27th of January. As described by Pitchfork, “Gloria flips between hyperpop, country, dancehall, disco, 2-step, and intimate, Kehlani-esque R&B”.
Read more
February 5, 2023
Virtual reality and the metaverse have become popular topics in the music industry where more and more technology and music have been combined, creating something that could revolutionize the entire
Read more.png)
February 5, 2023
The 65th annual GRAMMY Awards are here, and there's a long-awaited addition to the awards. This year marks the introduction of a new category: the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Award. For all
Read more.png)
January 31, 2023
Zach Bryan released his first album in 2019, and in the short time since he has become one of the biggest names in country. His biggest album, “American Heartbreak”, broke single-day album streaming
Read more
January 31, 2023
Miley Cyrus was born into the music industry, and has spent her career channelling her Nashville and Hollywood roots into a diverse discography stacked with hits. Add to that countless covers that are
Read more
January 31, 2023
Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because
Read more.png)
February 1, 2023
Google has done it. They have created an AI that can generate music from text descriptions. The announcement of this is timely because recently Chat GPT, (a language learning model created by OpenAI
Read more.png)
January 28, 2023
What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the ...
Read more.png)
January 26, 2023
Writer’s block is real, and it’s not just authors, but also songwriters and composers. Thinking of top hit songs can be difficult, so how do the pros do it? Where do they get their inspiration from?
Read more.png)
January 26, 2023
What does a TV show based on a video game and the music industry have in common? Near the end of 2021, Arcane took the world by storm after debuting on Netflix. Not only did it dazzle us with its...
Read more.png)
January 23, 2023
As the contract between Blackpink and YG Entertainment nears its end, fans of the popular South Korean girl group are wondering if the group will renew their contract with the agency...
Read more.png)
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.
.png)
