Legendary rock band The Who has fired their drummer, Zak Starkey, for the second time.
It was only last month that Starkey, the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, who has played with The Who since 1996, was first fired from the band last month.
Reportedly, lead singer Roger Daltrey was unhappy with Starkey’s performance during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Guitarist Pete Townsend implied in the statement that the breakup was mutual, but Starkey refuted this claim, saying he had been ‘fired.’
Townshend said on Sunday that “the time has come for a change,” adding “Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.”
Starkey retorted that he has “other projects and always have,” explaining that “The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7.”
“None of this (other work) has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them.”
There have been “weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox,” Starkey added.
Scott Devours, who has filled in for Starkey before, will be at the drums for The Who’s final tour.