The Who announced on May 18, 2025, that drummer Zak Starkey was leaving and that Scott Devours would take his place for the band’s farewell shows. The band cited its move toward retirement and Starkey’s other projects. Starkey disputed that account, saying he had been fired and had not quit. The announcement came about a month after Pete Townshend had said Starkey would remain in the band.
Why The Who said Starkey was leaving
In their joint May 18 statement, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey said The Who was “heading for retirement” and that Starkey needed to devote energy to a new band and other projects. Their statement did not cite a performance dispute as the reason for this second departure announcement.
Starkey gave a different account. As reported by the Los Angeles Times on May 19, he said he had been fired two weeks after being reinstated and had been asked to say he quit. He said, “I love The Who and would never had quit.” The band’s explanation and Starkey’s response are conflicting public accounts; they do not establish the private reasoning behind the decision.
How the split happened twice in 2025
March: the Royal Albert Hall shows
The Who performed two Teenage Cancer Trust shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall in March 2025. In his later account, Townshend referred to difficult sound checks, in-ear-monitor problems and mistakes by Starkey. Those points reflect Townshend’s explanation, not an independently established assessment of the performances.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
April 16: the first departure announcement
On April 16, the band said it had collectively decided to part ways with Starkey after the Royal Albert Hall shows. Starkey responded that he had suffered a medical emergency in January involving blood clots in his right bass-drum calf, had recovered, and disagreed that the March performances warranted the decision.
April 19: Townshend reverses course
Three days later, Townshend said Starkey was not being asked to leave. He described communication and sound-check difficulties, said Starkey had apologized for mistakes, and said he and Daltrey wanted Starkey to adjust his style for a non-orchestral lineup. Townshend wrote, “He’s not being asked to step down from The Who.” He also said Devours was not then replacing Starkey in the band. The April explanation concerned the March shows; it was distinct from the May statement about retirement and Starkey’s other projects. Townshend’s April 19 statement set out his account.
Rank #2
- Pages: 128
- Instrumentation: Piano
- Instrumentation: Piano/Keyboard
May 18: the second departure announcement
On May 18, Townshend and Daltrey announced that Starkey was leaving and named Devours as his replacement for the final shows. That announcement followed Townshend’s April reversal and reignited the dispute over whether Starkey had chosen to leave.
Who replaced Zak Starkey?
Scott Devours took the drum seat for The Who’s 2025 North American farewell shows. The band said fans would know him from Daltrey’s solo performances. The Who’s official biography also notes that Devours had substituted for Starkey on the band’s 2013 Quadrophenia & More tour and was officially announced for the 2025 farewell tour. In the May statement, Townshend and Daltrey wrote, “Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak.”
Rank #3
What happened to the farewell tour?
The Who announced The Song Is Over: The North American Farewell Tour on May 8, 2025, initially listing dates from August 16 through September 28. On September 12, the band added an October 1 show in Palm Springs and called it the tour’s final public date. The October 1, 2025, show was therefore the last public performance on that tour, rather than the originally listed September 28 endpoint. See the original tour announcement and the final-date update.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the lineup now?
The separation and Devours’s appointment described here are events from 2025. The Who’s official tour page, checked for this article, lists a Roger Daltrey solo date on November 21, 2026, but no current Who show; the band’s touring page still describes Devours in connection with the 2025 farewell tour. Those listings do not settle whether Starkey might return or whether The Who will perform again. They are not a definitive statement about a future lineup. Check The Who’s current tour dates and touring-band page for updates.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easy Piano
- Pages: 242
- Instrumentation: Piano/Keyboard
Rank #4
- Shrink-wrapped
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
