Former Oasis drummer Zak Starkey has shared his thoughts on Joey Waronker joining the band as their new drummer. He offered both advice and praise for the Gallagher brothers in a recent interview with NME.
Starkey delivered a characteristically direct response when asked about his thoughts on Waronker’s appointment and whether he had any advice for the new drummer.
“He’s not a mod is he? Don’t fuck it up,” Starkey said. “Make sure you get your tempos right, them boys know.”
Starkey went on to praise the musical abilities of Liam and Noel Gallagher. He emphasized their precision and intelligence as musicians.
“They’re smart,” he continued. “They’re some of the smartest musicians I’ve ever met. Whether it’s fast, it’s slow, they’re bang on it.”
Starkey’s comments come at a significant moment in Oasis history. The band prepares for their highly anticipated reunion tour with a new drummer behind the kit.
Waronker’s appointment marks the latest chapter in Oasis’s complex drumming history. The Oasis Web reported that the band had several drummers over the years, including Alan White, who joined Oasis in 1995 after original drummer Tony McCarroll was fired. Starkey himself replaced White in 2004 and remained with the band until their 2009 breakup. This makes him well-positioned to offer advice to his successor.
The drummer position in Oasis has always been crucial to the band’s sound and dynamics. Wikipedia noted that the band’s reformation in 2025 marks the first official appointment of a new drummer since their split. This highlights the significance of Waronker’s role in continuing the band’s legacy.
The Gallagher brothers’ reputation for demanding excellence from their bandmates is well-documented. Music Data Blog documented that their intense and sometimes volatile relationship has often influenced Oasis’s dynamic and creative process throughout their career.
Starkey’s emphasis on getting “tempos right” reflects the technical precision required to play with the Gallaghers. They have built their reputation on tight, driving rhythms that have defined British rock for decades. His warning to “not fuck it up” underscores both the pressure and privilege of joining one of Britain’s most successful bands as they embark on their reunion journey.
