Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsPete Townshend confirmed on April 19, 2025, that Zak Starkey was not being asked to leave The Who and had agreed to adjust his drumming for the band’s non-orchestral lineup. But that was not the final personnel announcement: on May 18, Townshend and Roger Daltrey said the band was heading for retirement and named Scott Devours as Starkey’s replacement.
What did Pete Townshend say about Zak Starkey’s return?
In a statement published by The Who’s official website on April 19, 2025, Townshend wrote: “He’s not being asked to step down from The Who.” He said Starkey had agreed to tighten his “latest evolved drumming style” for the band’s non-orchestral lineup.
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Townshend described the issue as one of fit and communication, not a permanent dismissal at that moment. He wrote: “We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It’s over.” That was his characterization of the dispute on April 19, not a guarantee that the lineup would remain unchanged.
Why was Starkey asked to tighten his drumming?
Townshend said he and Daltrey wanted Starkey’s playing tightened for The Who’s non-orchestral shows. The official statement did not specify a technical change, particular songs, or a precise musical standard, so “tighten” should be understood as Townshend’s broad description rather than a detailed instruction.
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- Who's Next, their fifth studio album released in 1971, is often ranked as one of the best albums of all time
Townshend also cited communication problems and difficulties around the Royal Albert Hall shows. He said Starkey was recovering from knee replacement surgery, sound checks may not have been sufficient, and Starkey had apologized for mistakes. These are Townshend’s stated reasons; they do not independently settle the musicians’ differing accounts of what happened.
What happened after the April return announcement?
| Date | What was said | Who said it |
|---|---|---|
| April 19, 2025 | Starkey was not being asked to leave and had agreed to adjust his style for the non-orchestral lineup. | Pete Townshend, in a statement on The Who’s official website |
| May 18, 2025 | The Who were heading for retirement; the band wished Starkey well with other projects and named Scott Devours as his replacement. | Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, in a joint official statement |
| May 19, 2025 | Starkey said he had not quit. | Starkey, as reported by the Los Angeles Times |
| August 8, 2025 | Starkey said he had believed the matter had blown over and that the band already had a new drummer. | Starkey, as reported by MusicRadar |
The May 18 announcement, published by The Who’s official website, is the later band statement and explains why the April return should be treated as a brief chapter rather than confirmation of Starkey’s lasting membership.
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- Who's Next, their fifth studio album released in 1971, is often ranked as one of the best albums of all time
How did Starkey describe his departure?
Starkey disputed the band’s account of his departure, telling the Los Angeles Times that he had not quit. In August, MusicRadar reported that Starkey said he had thought the matter had blown over. His account differs from the band’s public announcements; the available statements do not resolve every disagreement about how the split occurred.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Zak Starkey currently back in The Who?
Townshend said Starkey was not being asked to leave on April 19, 2025. One month later, Townshend and Daltrey announced Devours as his replacement while saying The Who were heading for retirement. Those announcements establish the band’s position in May 2025; they do not establish its lineup as of October 8, 2026.
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- Remastered and pressed on 180 gram vinyl
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- This Deluxe 3LP set features the original album, newly remastered and expanded with Who Put The Boot In - a classic live performance recorded at Swansea's Vetch Field in 1976
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