Starkey Rejoins The Who After Year of Back-and-Forth, Calls Rehearsal 'On Fire'
Zak Starkey confirmed he is back with The Who after a turbulent 2025 that saw him dismissed, briefly reinstated, and then let go again. He praised a recent rehearsal as intense and said he is thrilled to return to the band. Singer Roger Daltrey had earlier hinted at the reunion during a solo show in Las Vegas.
Starkey's return marks the end of a chaotic stretch that began last April when a band representative announced his departure, reportedly at Daltrey's urging after vocal monitoring issues at Royal Albert Hall shows. The drummer was reinstated days later, then dismissed again within a month, with Scott Devours taking over for the farewell North American trek that wrapped in October.
The reunion surfaced when Daltrey told a Las Vegas audience that rehearsals "sounded great," prompting Starkey's Instagram acknowledgment. The band has not confirmed future dates, though Daltrey previously indicated the US tour was final while leaving other regions open. Starkey, who joined in 1996, called the session one of the toughest rehearsals the group has ever had.
This reconciliation could resonate with longtime rock fans who followed the band's internal drama, potentially restoring a familiar lineup for any upcoming international dates. It may also influence how legacy acts handle personnel transitions publicly, as the messy back-and-forth drew attention to generational tensions within veteran groups. For Starkey, the return could solidify his musical identity beyond his famous father's shadow, while fans may view the reunion as a stabilizing sign for the band's remaining years.