“I would never had quit”: Drummer Zak Starkey drops bombshell statement after being fired from 'The Who' ahead of farewell tour

Drummer Zak Starkey dropped a bombshell statement after being fired from The Who for the second time in a month, just ahead of the band's 2025 North American farewell tour.

According to a report in Variety, he said in an Instagram post on May 18, 2025, that he was asked to claim that he was quitting this time on his own, but he refused. He wrote,

“I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. I love the who and would never had quit.”

He added in his statement that quitting The Who would 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 x To clarify ‘other projects’ yes I do have other projects and always have.”

Zak Starkey was first fired from The Who on April 16, 2025, according to the reports, after which he was shortly reinstated in the band. However, two weeks later, he was again dismissed.

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Who will be replacing Zak Starkey in The Who?

After Peter Townsend announced that they had fired Zak Starkey from their band, The Who, for the second time in a month, Scott Devours has been introduced as his replacement for their upcoming 2025 North American farewell tour.

Devours has remained a longtime drummer for Roger Daltrey’s solo band. He will continue to play for The Who for all final tour dates running from August 16 to September 28, 2025, according to a report in USA Today.

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The Who's official statement on Starkey's departure

Taking to Instagram on May 18, 2025, Townsend wrote:

“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 hand and I wish him the best. Scott Devours who has worked with Roger's solo band will join The Who for our Final shows. Please welcome him.”

He also released a formal statement on their band’s website along with his teammate, Roger Daltrey, where they mentioned that Zak Starkey has left the band to pursue other solo projects.

They wrote:

“The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world.”

According to a report in the Rolling Stones, initially, there were rumors that the group was unhappy with Starkey’s performance during the Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows. Starkey, in his response, said that in January this year, he had a medical emergency when blood clots were found in his right calf, which was later healed.