There’s another update in the ongoing drama between drummer Zak Starkey and The Who. For reference, Starkey has been touring with The Who for quite a few years. Recently, he was fired, then rehired, then fired again. I can’t make this stuff up. To make matters worse, Pete Townshend has taken to social media to say that Starkey was just busy with other projects. Then, Starkey clapped back and said that he was definitely fired from the band. Now, Zak Starkey claims that he turned down a chance to perform during Oasis’ upcoming highly anticipated reunion tour to stick with The Who. Who, as we mentioned earlier, fired him.
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I’m not going to lie, I’d be pretty mad if I turned down an opportunity to perform at the biggest reunion show of the year (or possibly the decade), only to get the pink slip in a highly-publicized falling-out.
Did Zak Starkey Really Turn Down Oasis To Tour With the Who?
Zak Starkey has been having a rough few months. And missing out on a chance to perform with Oasis is just salt in the wound at this point. Starkey has rapport with the band, too, as he was their touring drummer from 2004 to 2009.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Starkey claimed that he was asked to perform during Oasis’ reunion tour. The trek is set to take place from June through November of this year. Starkey allegedly turned them down, as he thought he would be touring with The Who throughout most of this year. Starkey said that if he knew that he was getting the pink slip from The Who, he would have never turned Oasis down.
Here’s where things get a little confusing. Last month, Starkey insinuated that he was not asked to drum for Oasis. He even said on an episode of BBC Breakfast that he was “gutted” to not perform with the band, and asked the Gallaghers why he wasn’t in it.
“You know, if you get a new drummer, you get comfortable, don’t you?” Starkey said, likely referencing Oasis’ new drummer, Joey Waronker. “You get comfortable with new musicians, and I think that’s what’s happened, and I’m alright with that.”
Who knows what the truth is at this point?
Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
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