Growing up as the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr wasn’t the easiest for drummer Zak Starkey.
The ex-Oasis drummer, 59 – who was recently sacked from The Who – said he struggled to get the approval from his father when performing in front of him.
Zak admitted the rock ‘n’ roll legend, 84, would often brutally slate his drumming skills and say ‘the most cutting f****** s***’.
Speaking to The Sun about their relationship, Zak reflected: ‘My dad never opened the doors for me.
‘He’d watch me and say the most cutting f****** s***. But he is the greatest rock ’n’ roll drummer in the world. He’s better now than he was then.’
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Growing up as the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, 84, wasn’t the easiest for drummer Zak Starkey, 59 (pictured together in 2016)
The ex-Oasis drummer – who was recently sacked from The Who – said he struggled to get the approval from his father when performing in front of him (pictured in 2021)
Zak also insisted there is ‘no grudge’ with his former The Who bandmates after he was sacked last month.
He told the publication: ‘There’s no grudge, it’s f***ing music. In the beginning they were the maddest band. Pete is incredibly intimidating – he gobbed on my drum riser.’
Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram to announce that Zak, the Who’s drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band.
But Zak quickly took to his own social media to claim that his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band.
The statement from Pete 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 hand and I wish him the best.’
In a second post, Pete and Roger Daltrey added: ‘The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs 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.
‘Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey’.
Zak admitted the rock ‘n’ roll legend would often brutally slate his drumming skills and say ‘the most cutting f****** s***’ (pictured in 2005)
Zak also insisted there is ‘no grudge’ with his former The Who bandmates after he was sacked last month (Roger Daltrey and Zak pictured in 2023)
Resharing The Who’s post, Zak hit back: ‘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. 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 x.
‘To clarify “other projects” yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7.’
Zak continued to list his other previous projects before adding: ‘Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them.
‘The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.’
Zak again took to his Instagram account to share that his version of events had been contradicted yet again after a phonecall with The Who singer-guitarist Roger.
Zak said Roger told him he hadn’t actually been fired and instead ‘retired to work on his own projects’.
He wrote: ‘NOISE&CONFUSION!!!! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!
Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram last month to announce that Zak, the Who’s drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band
Zak has since claimed his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band
‘Rog said I hadn’t been ‘fired’…I had been ‘retired’ to work n my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future….
‘Rog said “Oh!” and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been.
‘Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say “The mind boggles!!!” XXX.’
It comes weeks after The Who shared the shock news that they will be retiring from touring after 60 years, following a final run of shows in the US later this year.
The legendary rock band shared the news at a London press conference as they announced their farewell tour, which will kick off in July.
