The Who’s Roger Daltrey has confirmed that Zak Starkey has rehearsed with the band, ahead of a possible reunion tour just over a year after his departure from the group.
Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, began playing with The Who in 1996 and remained their touring drummer for nearly three decades, but his position was suddenly thrown into doubt following the band’s Teenage Cancer Trust shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March last year.
During a performance of ‘The Song Is Over’, Daltrey stopped and complained that he could not hear the key over the drums, and the band were subsequently reported to have fired Starkey following an “acrimonious” fallout.
Starkey said he was “surprised and saddened” by the decision, maintaining that he did not believe there had been a problem with his performance. Days later, Pete Townshend announced that Starkey was “not being asked to step down”.
However, in May The Who confirmed that the drummer had left the band again, stating that “the time has come for a change”. Starkey disputed the suggestion that he had chosen to leave, claiming he had been asked to “lie” and say he had quit to pursue other projects. “I love The Who and would never have quit,” he wrote at the time.
Last month, Starkey appeared to be playing with The Who again, with both he and Daltrey confirming that they had rehearsed together. Now, the singer has discussed his inclusion and how they feel about working with him.
Speaking to LifeMinute he said of the sticksman: “He’s not Keith Moon, but he’s come very close.” When asked directly if a reunion with Starkey was possible, Daltrey replied: “I don’t know. We did a rehearsal recently, and Zak was the drummer. We love Zak, but sometimes the road doesn’t like Zak. Sometimes it gets on top of him, and it becomes difficult.”
He continued: “He was drumming at the rehearsal, and we did the rehearsal to see if we can possibly do shows next year. Still hit the notes, still get the drive. Who music demands an incredible amount of drive, and without that, it would be Herman’s Hermits without the Hermann.”
Speaking to NME last June, Starkey revealed he is still in touch with his former bandmates, but admitted to being confused by what the future may hold. “I still talk to Roger every week on the phone. I still text with Pete all the time,” he said. “I spoke to Roger a few weeks ago and he said, ‘Don’t take your drums out of the warehouse just yet in case we need you’. What the fuck’s going on, man? That’s where we’re at now.”
In May, Roger Daltrey said that The Who “were the first heavy metal band”, claiming that they paved the way for the genre in the ‘60s.
