After being fired, re-hired, fired again, and told that he was “retired” by The Who, Zak Starkey has revealed that the ordeal not only ended his longtime run as the band’s drummer, but also cost him a major opportunity: playing with Oasis on their upcoming reunion shows.
In a new interview with The Telegraph, Starkey claimed he was invited to participate in Oasis’ historic reunion — bringing together Liam and Noel Gallagher for an international run of shows from July through November — but turned it down because he thought he was going to be touring with The Who this year.
Now, Starkey says that had he known he wouldn’t be continuing with The Who, he would’ve gladly joined Oasis on the road. “Of course, of course,” he answered when asked if he would’ve played with the Gallaghers. Starkey served as Oasis’ touring drummer from 2004 through 2009.
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It’s worth noting that Strakey’s comments contradict what he said last month during an appearance on BBC Breakfast, when he explained he was “gutted” to not be drumming with Oasis for the reunion and even texted the Gallagher brothers to ask “’Why am I not in it?’” At the time, he said of the band’s new drummer Joey Waronker, “You know, if you get a new drummer, you get comfortable, don’t you? You get comfortable with new musicians and I think that’s what’s happened and I’m alright with that.”
In any event, Oasis is just under three weeks away from their kickoff show in Cardiff, England, and there’s been no indication that Starkey will be joining the celebrations there, nor on the band’s US tour this summer.
The Who, meanwhile, will embark on their 2025 farewell tour dates in full force next month, beginning with a European jaunt, and followed by a US leg of their own in August and September (get tickets here). Scott Devours, Roger Daltrey’s longtime solo drummer, has been tapped to serve as The Who’s touring drummer on the upcoming dates.
Speaking about parting ways with The Who, Starkey — who initially said he was “surprised and saddened” by being fired — asserted that he has no bad feelings against anyone personally. “I don’t blame anyone,” he said, before clarifying that The Who are “unpredictable, aggressive, and fucking insane,” but that’s why he loves them.
And as it stands, the chances of him being re-hired again are non-zero. “I spoke to Roger last week and he said, ‘Don’t take your drums out of [The Who’s] warehouse yet in case we need you,’” he said. “I said, ‘Best let me know.’”