Did The Who actually part ways with their longtime drummer Zak Starkey (59)? A recent Instagram post from Starkey himself — son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr — suggests otherwise. On Monday, Starkey revealed he had a “great phone call” with The Who’s frontman Roger Daltrey (81), during which Daltrey allegedly assured him that he hadn’t been fired. Instead, the band had simply given him time off to pursue his personal musical projects.

According to Starkey, he informed Daltrey during the call that his band, Mantra of the Cosmos, is preparing to release a new single in early June. After that, he would be available for The Who again. Daltrey’s response? A simple “Oh.” And that was the end of it — or so Starkey claims. “On good terms and as close friends, just as we’ve always been,” he wrote. He added affectionately: “You just have to love these guys.” Whether the post was laced with sarcasm remains open to interpretation.

A Different Tune Just Days Earlier

This calm tone is a sharp contrast to Starkey’s own statements just days before. On May 18, 2025, he posted on Instagram claiming he was “fired two weeks after being rehired” and was then asked to issue a statement saying he had left to focus on other musical ventures. He refused to do so, calling it a “lie.”

“I love The Who and would never leave them,” Starkey wrote. He also listed, in detail, the many side projects he’s pursued since joining the band in 1996 — none of which had ever been a problem before, he emphasized.

His comments came as a response to a statement posted that same day by The Who’s guitarist and co-founder Pete Townshend (80). Townshend praised Starkey’s years of service and said “the time had come for a change.” He announced that Scott Devours (58) would be stepping in as drummer for the band’s upcoming farewell tour in North America, effectively replacing Starkey.

Not the First Time Drama Hits

This isn’t the first time the band has been surrounded by confusion regarding Starkey’s status. Just a month earlier, following a series of charity concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, The Who announced they had parted ways with him. But three days later, Townshend backtracked, citing “communication problems — both personal and private — on all sides.” He said those issues had since been resolved in private discussions.

With conflicting messages and no clear final word from the band itself, fans are left to wonder: Is Zak Starkey still The Who’s drummer, or not? As of now, it seems even those closest to the situation aren’t entirely sure.