Photo: AFP
After some awkward back and forth about whether or not Zak Starkey was still in The Who, the band confirmed on May 18 that they had indeed parted ways with the drummer and replaced him with Scott Devours, who played in Roger Daltrey's solo band.
At the time, Starkey was not happy, writing on Instagram: "I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit The Who to pursue my other musical endeavors this would be a lie,” wrote Starkey on Instagram. “I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin’ squeezebox x.”
On Monday (May 26), the son of Ringo Starr shared an Instagram post with a much different tone. "I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!" he wrote. "Rog said I hadn’t been ‘fired’…I had been ‘retired’ to work n my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future."
"Rog said ‘Oh!’ and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been," Starkey added. "Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say ‘The mind boggles!!!’"
Devours will be joining Daltrey and Pete Townsend on their "The Song Is Over" farewell tour this summer. See Starkey's post and the full list of tour dates below.
The Who "The Song Is Over" Farewell Tour Dates
Aug. 19 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
Aug. 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Aug. 23 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Aug. 26 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
Aug. 28 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
Aug. 30 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Sept. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sept. 4 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sept. 7 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Sept. 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
Sept. 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
Sept. 21 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sept. 23 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
Sept. 25 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
Sept. 28 – Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena