The band is back together… but it turns out they were never really apart.
After The Who drummer Zak Starkey announced he was exiting the band earlier this week, founding member Pete Townshend took to social media to explain that the group has worked through their issues.
“News flash! Who back Zak! Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who,” wrote Townshend on Instagram. “There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been happily aired.”
In a longer statement on the band’s website, the guitarist explained that he and lead singer Roger Daltrey have asked Starkey “to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed.”
“I take responsibility for some of the confusion,” Townshend continued, adding that they “didn’t put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage.”
Noting that Starkey “made a few mistakes and he has apologised,” Townshend added, “We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It’s over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.”
After rumors that drummer Scott Devours would replace Starkey in the lineup, Townshend apologized “for not crushing that rumour before it spread.”
Townshend’s statement comes after Starkey announced he “suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf,” which is “now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”
Following reports thatDaltrey had friction with Starkey during a recent performance in which he couldn’t hear over the drums, Starkey said he was “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,” added Starkey. “29 years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.”
Daltrey previously revealed onstage last month that he’s “going blind,” adding: “Fortunately I still have my voice, because then I’ll have a full Tommy.”
