During his ‘Alive and Kicking and Having Fun!’ solo tour, Roger Daltrey addressed recent rumors about Zak Starkey’s departure from The Who. The Gazzas reported his statements.
“The last few weeks in my life, I’ve felt like I’ve been starring in an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone.’ I’ve been reading about me in the press, doing things I don’t remember ever doing,” Daltrey said.
“According to an inside source, there was a war of words in a dressing room. It wasn’t my f*cking dressing room, that’s for sure!” he continued. “All I want to say is, it’s fake news. I am not guilty.”
“I have not got a press spokesman. I speak for myself. And f*ck social media. I’ve never done it; I’ve never want to do it – it’s taken civilization to the pits,” he concluded.
Widespread speculation about internal conflicts within The Who regarding Starkey’s departure prompted this statement.
Recent developments have brought clarity to the situation. American Songwriter revealed that Zak Starkey has returned to The Who. The reported conflict appeared to be more of a miscommunication than a permanent split.
Vinyl Me Please documented the drummer’s extensive history with the band. Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, joined The Who in 1996. Before this, he performed with various bands including the Semantics, the Lightning Seeds, and the Icicle Works.
Ultimate Classic Rock highlighted statements from both Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend. They emphasized that Starkey remains an integral part of the band. Townshend’s reassurance helped dispel rumors of a permanent split.
The band maintains a familial dynamic where internal conflicts commonly arise but resolve quickly. Social media speculation amplified what was essentially a minor miscommunication.
