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Rock fans rejoice! The Who and drummer Zak Starkey have patched things up after a brief and very public spat.
Earlier this week, remaining original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend announced they were parting ways with Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, after nearly 30 years together. However, Townshend quickly clarified the situation on social media, chalking it up to “communication issues” and his own struggles recovering from knee surgery.
Apparently, some on-stage difficulties during recent shows at the Royal Albert Hall led to tension within the band. Townshend admitted he may have rushed his recovery from a knee replacement and didn’t allow enough time for sound checks, contributing to the problems. He also noted that Starkey made a few mistakes and has since apologized.
Townshend took responsibility for some of the confusion and expressed surprise at how quickly the story gained traction. He emphasized that The Who is a “family” and that they are “moving forward with optimism and fire.”
He also apologized to Scott Devours, Daltrey’s solo drummer, for fueling rumors that Devours would be replacing Starkey. It seems all’s well that ends well for The Who, who are ready to rock on with their longtime drummer.