Drummer problems for the Who speak more poorly about Roger Daltrey

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Just a few days past, The Who were among the most tranquil and reserved bands in rock music. Having been united, with occasional breaks, for six decades, they were well-versed in the industry’s ways. Generally speaking, unless there were special circumstances, the key members continued to stay within the band.

This encompassed Zak Starkey, Ringo Starr’s son who has been with The Who for the past 29 years, stepping into the role previously held by legendary drummer Keith Moon. While Starkey may not be the best drummer of all time, he certainly hasn’t been a poor one.

As a devoted fan, I must share that it was during a performance at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust on March 30, that things took a turn when our beloved vocalist, Roger Daltrey, felt somewhat displeased with the band due to my own deviations from our planned routine. Being a long-standing curator and patron of this noble charity, his emotional connection to our performance was profound.

The Who didn’t seem to fire their drummer after all

During the live performance of the 1971 song titled “The Song Is Over,” Daltrey paused and explained to the audience that he couldn’t hear the key because the drums were overpoweringly loud or aggressive. He expressed, “To sing this song, I need to hear the key, but I can’t here. There seems to be no pitch; all I can hear is a constant drumbeat, boom, boom, boom. I’m unable to sing along with that. I apologize, folks.

Approximately four weeks after, it appeared that The Who and Daltrey, in particular, had let go of Starkey. However, a now-deleted social media post from Starkey suggested a different storyline as he playfully apologized for “missing some beats” and promised not to repeat the mistake. It seems there was a misunderstanding, and Starkey remains a part of the band.

Musician Pete Townshend expressed that he and Daltrey prefer Keith Moon’s successor, Starkey, to perform with a bit more brevity, yet emphasized that The Who is like a family and will continue in their familiar style, much as they have for the past few decades.

Unfortunately, there’s a strong possibility that the Who may not embark on another extensive tour. Consequently, these standalone concerts could encounter similar problems. However, rest assured, Starkey will remain involved in the events.

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2025-04-20 00:00