The gloves are OFF! Just when you thought the classic rock legends were settling into their golden years, Beatles icon Ringo Starr has ignited a full-blown war of words, unleashing a scathing, no-holds-barred swipe at The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey! The reason? The utterly bizarre, on-again-off-again (and now seemingly off-again) firing of Ringo’s own son, Zak Starkey, from The Who’s drum stool. This isn’t just band drama; it’s an “insane” feud that’s got the entire music world buzzing!
For months, the situation with Zak Starkey and The Who has been a head-scratcher. After 29 years as their drummer, Starkey was reportedly axed in April after a show at the Royal Albert Hall, amidst whispers of backstage tension and Daltrey’s complaints about his playing. Then, confusion reigned as guitarist Pete Townshend seemed to backtrack, only for the band to announce Starkey’s departure again a month later, citing “a change.” Starkey himself initially claimed he’d “retired” – then sensationally revealed he’d been “fired more times than [late Who drummer] Keith Moon in ten days!”
Now, the true feelings of a rock legend have come to light. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Zak Starkey revealed precisely what his legendary father, Ringo Starr, thinks of the entire chaotic ordeal. And Ringo did not hold back.
“He said, ‘I’ve never liked the way that little man runs that band,'” Starkey recounted, seemingly referring to Roger Daltrey.
“Little man.” Ouch. That’s a direct hit from one rock titan to another, suggesting a long-held disdain for Daltrey’s leadership style. It’s an unprecedented public diss from the usually more composed Beatle, showcasing his fierce paternal loyalty and perhaps his own frustration with how the iconic band has handled his son.
Starkey further exposed the sheer absurdity of the situation, revealing a recent conversation with Daltrey: “He said, ‘Don’t take your drums out of the warehouse, we might be calling you.’ What the fk? These guys are fkin’ insane!”
“I’d love to be back in it,” Starkey admitted to The Standard, despite the bewildering back-and-forth. “I’ve done it for 30 f**king years and they’ve only got 17 gigs [left on this tour]. They’d have to rehearse so much; maybe that’s what they’ve realised – ‘Oh no, we’re gonna have to rehearse with a new drummer!'”1
This isn’t just about a drummer being let go; it’s a window into the often dysfunctional, highly emotional world of veteran rock bands. Ringo Starr’s scathing comments have poured gasoline on an already burning fire, turning a bizarre band split into a full-blown clash of rock royalty. As The Who gear up for their final tour dates, all eyes will now be on the stage – and perhaps, on the increasingly heated rivalry between two of music’s most legendary figures. The madness, it seems, has only just begun!
