March 28, 2023
Society has always placed a high value on music. As technology starts to become more part of our lives, social media and music platforms have become more and more prominent in the music business....
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March 28, 2023
The Latin GRAMMY Awards are changing it up this year for songwriters! On March 21, 2023, The Latin Recording Academy released a press release announcing various additions and changes to the awards...
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March 22, 2023
Even if you haven't heard of NewJeans yet, there's a good chance you'll soon be humming along to their infectious tunes. The Korean pop group is quickly gaining international attention and breaking..
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March 31, 2023
Even if you don’t know who Max Martin is, you’ve definitely heard his songs. Hit-pop songs are kind of his thing after all. Martin first stepped into the music world in 1985 as a frontman for....
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March 18, 2023
The Filipino-Canadian duo from Vancouver has been releasing new tracks left and right, and they are known for their most streamed songs on Spotify, “Timezones,” and “Silver Skies.” Previously .......
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March 17, 2023
The singer, songwriter, and actress Miley Cyrus has recently released a record-breaking song called “Flowers” in January 2023. This song recites her 10-year long relationship with her ex-husband....
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March 4, 2023
Men I Trust is a Canadian indie pop band known for their dreamy and mellow sound. Their music is laid back, incorporating elements of funk, disco, and R&B to create a smooth and groovy vibe that is
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March 3, 2023
Artists like Kaytranada have proved that you don’t need access to a professional recording studio to create well-produced music. As technology and social media have advanced, it is now easier than eve
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February 25, 2023
People draw inspiration from others when forming their ideas, it’s a fact of life. Sampling in music is no exception - and artists do it for a variety of reasons. Traditionally, copyright laws and
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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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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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