Zak Starkey is back behind the drum kit for The Who, more than a year after a chaotic string of firings and rehirings that left his position with the band deeply uncertain.
The confirmation came from two directions within days of each other. Roger Daltrey, 80, told an audience at his solo show at the Encore Theater in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Aug. 26, that the band had recently rehearsed with Starkey and that it "sounded great." Starkey then confirmed the news himself on Friday, Aug. 28.
"Nice one Rog x. Lookin forward to tearin it up with The Who again," Starkey wrote on Instagram, alongside a clip of a report about Daltrey's comments. "The rehearsal was great.. I don't think we've ever rehearsed as tough as that .. usually we drink tea and talk about what time we're going home!"
In a statement to Variety, Starkey was direct about how the session went. "We rehearsed for an afternoon and were absolutely on fire. I'm so happy to be back playing the music I love with people I love. It's good to be home."
According to Billboard, the reunion comes after a turbulent stretch that began in April of last year, when a representative for The Who announced that Starkey had been asked to step down after nearly three decades with the group. He had first joined the band in 1996. Reports at the time indicated that Daltrey was behind the decision, following performances at London's Royal Albert Hall where he reportedly had difficulty hearing his own vocals over Starkey's playing.
What followed was a back-and-forth that stretched over weeks. Starkey was rehired just days after the initial announcement, then fired again about a month later. Drummer Scott Devours joined the band in his place for what was billed as a farewell North American tour, which the Who completed in October.
The band's guitarist and principal songwriter, Pete Townshend, is 81.
Whether the renewed partnership means new tour dates remains unclear. While speaking with the Arizona Republic during his solo tour, Daltrey addressed the band's future. "It's not over by any means," he said. "It's just that was the last tour of America for the Who."
At press time, The Who had not confirmed any new tour dates, and a spokesperson for the band had not responded to Billboard's request for comment.
