The Who sack drummer Zak Starkey for a second time after sharing huge update on their retirement plans

following shock U-turn

The Who’s drummer Zak Starkey has been fired from the band for a second time, just one month after he was sacked then quickly reinstated.

Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram on Monday to announce that Zak, the Who’s drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band.

Zak’s sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums.

The statement read: ‘After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.’

In a second post, Pete and Roger Daltrey added: ‘The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world.

‘Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey’.

Zak has since claimed his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band.

Resharing The Who’s post, Zak hit back: ‘I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie.

‘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

‘To clarify ‘other projects’ yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7’

Zak continued to list his other previous projects before adding: ‘Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them .

‘The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.’