What did Roger Daltrey say about Zak Starkey? The Who vocalist calls ex-drummer’s mocking remarks “incredibly upsetting”

The Who’s leader and frontman, Roger Daltrey, has spoken out about his feud with longtime drummer Zak Starkey, calling the parting drama and following public statements by Starkey “incredibly upsetting.” The rifts started occurring with an onstage incident and have since developed into a highly public back-and-forth between the band and its former member.

Sir Roger Daltrey, the co-founder of the band, addressed the issue in a recent interview with The Times, explaining what transpired during the band’s April 2025 performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall after Zak Starkey had given his version of the incident to The Telegraph.

During the event, Daltrey reportedly pointed at the bass drum and was obviously angry. According to Daltrey, the problem was not with Zak Starkey’s performance, but rather with the overly loud sound mix.

“[The sound] is controlled by a guy on the side, and we had so much sub-bass on the sound of the drums that I couldn’t pitch. I was pointing to the bass drum and screaming at him because it was like flying a plane without seeing the horizon. So when Zak thought I was having a go at him, I wasn’t. That’s all that happened.”

While Daltrey believes that the incident was a technological error, he described Zak Starkey’s public response to his dismissal as very upsetting. He said:

“It was kind of a character assassination and it was incredibly upsetting."

The Who’s vocalist highlighted that he and guitarist Pete Townshend have complete creative authority over the band. He explained:

“Pete [Townshend] and I retain the right to be the Who. Everyone else is a session player. You can’t replace Keith Moon. We wanted to branch out, and that’s all I want to say about it. But [Starkey’s reaction] was crippling to me.”

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Zak Starkey's counterclaim

Zak Starkey, the son of music legend and Beatles member Sir Ringo Starr, who had been a drummer for The Who for over 30 years, provided a different account of the incident. After being sacked following the April concert, he was briefly reinstated before being fired again in mid-May.

It was only after Townshend and The Who’s Instagram account announced Zak Starkey’s departure. The statement read:

"After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hang and I wish him the best."

They also announced:

"Scott Devours, who has worked with Roger [Daltrey's] solo band will join The Who for our final shows. Please welcome him."

Following this, Zak Starkey provided his version, where he said:

"I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical [endeavors]. This would be a lie."

He continued:

"I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement. Quitting the who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox."

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Roger Daltrey's health scare

In the same interview, Roger Daltrey revealed that he was battling meningitis nine years ago, and its effects are still present. He said:

"It’s done a lot of damage. It’s buggered up my internal thermometer, so every time I start singing in any climate over 75 degrees I’m wringing with sweat, which drains my body salts.”

He went on to talk about how his condition could make this The Who’s farewell tour. He said:

“The potential to get really ill is there and, I have to be honest, I’m nervous about making it to the end of the tour.”

The band is starting their North America tour on 16 August 2025, where they will be performing with their latest drummer, Scott Devours, at Florida’s Amerant Bank Arena. Scott Devours is the band’s latest drummer after Zak Starkey’s dismissal. He has worked with Roger Daltrey’s solo band and opened for the band in Milan on 22 July 2025.

The North American tour will last for six weeks, during which the band will be playing in Newark, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Boston, Wantagh, New York, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, and Las Vegas.

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With Zak Starkey’s dismissal and Roger Daltrey’s health issues, The Who could be performing for the last time.