The drummer Zak Starkey denies allegations of character assassination levied by Roger Daltrey, as the ongoing controversy surrounding his exit from The Who persists.
Zak Starkey's Disputes Allegations and Denies Character Assassination of Roger Daltrey
In a series of events that have been making headlines, Zak Starkey, the former drummer for The Who and son of Ringo Starr, has found himself at odds with the band's frontman, Roger Daltrey.
Starkey, who was dismissed from The Who last year, has been vocal about his version of events, disputing the band's official narrative of his departure. In an interview with The Times, Starkey criticized the band's handling of his exit, initially denying that he retired and instead stating that he was fired. He also pointed out that the tension began during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, where Daltrey stopped a song, allegedly due to complaints about the sub-bass sound, which Starkey felt was misinterpreted as criticism of his performance.
However, Daltrey has denied Starkey's comments about him, as reported in the same interview. Despite this, Starkey has not publicly responded directly to Daltrey's claim of "character assassination" in the context of his dismissal.
Starkey has also suggested that Daltrey made critical errors during the show, such as missing his cue for the intro of "The Song is Over," which he claims led to the tension and eventual dismissal. However, Daltrey has claimed that Starkey missed the intro himself during the Albert Hall gig.
Starkey denies making any public comments about Daltrey that were intended as a character assassination. His Instagram post about the situation, shared under the handle "@therealzakstarkey," has been taken down. The post, shared via a lengthy screed on Instagram, was shared on an undisclosed date.
Starkey's initial intention was to ignore the media coverage about the interview in The Times, but subsequent widespread reporting has become annoying for him. He has expressed his admiration for Daltrey's singing abilities and stated that their history together is too long for grudges.
Meanwhile, The Who is planning to embark on a farewell tour. The gig performed by The Who at Albert Hall was considered "ok" by Starkey. This year, his prolonged sacking from the band The Who is ongoing, and the band has since hired a new drummer.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Starkey has not let it dampen his spirit. He has been focusing on his music and has been working on new projects. The future remains uncertain for both Starkey and The Who, but one thing is clear: the music lives on.
Starkey, in defiance of Daltrey's alleged accusations, maintains his dedication to the world of entertainment, immersing himself in various music projects as a testament to the resilience of pop-culture's influence. To this end, he continues to contend with the trepidations surrounding his departure from The Who, asserting that his love for music and the band endures beyond the tumultuous pop-cultural landscape.
