THE WHO Fired Their Drummer Because He Was Playing Too Loud At A Show

The Who played one of several shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London on March 30. One song on the setlist that night was "This Song is Over", which vocalist Roger Daltrey stopped because he was pissed about drummer Zak Starkey's performance.

"To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't," said Daltrey during the show (right around the 3:10 mark). "All I've got is drum sound: boom, boom, boom. And I can't sing to that. I'm sorry guys."

If there's an issue with the live set, it feels maybe a little more appropriate to bring it up after the show rather than call out your drummer to the audience, right?

Then on April 16, The Who issued a statement saying they decided to part ways with Starkey: "The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future."

And sure, maybe the two situations were unrelated and something else happened. Except Starkey just issued his own statement to Rolling Stone, in part noting that he's "surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night." So the issue was absolutely a catalyst for being let go.

"I'm very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, 'uncle Keith [Moon]' has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. They've been like family to me. In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.

"After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I'm surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do? I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of 'Domino Bones' by Mantra of the Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run and I wish them the best."