Days after firing drummer Zak Starkey following a round of concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall, The Who have clarified the situation and announced they have re-hired their longtime drummer of nearly three decades.

Guitarist Pete Townshend announced the news in a message posted to Instagram: “News flash! Who back Zak! Zak is not being asked to step down from The Who. There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily. More posts coming.”  

In a full statement (which can be read HERE), Townshend shouldered part of the blame for the band’s recent miscommunication and performance issues, noting that his recent knee surgery hindered his own playing during the shows in question.  Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, addressed his re-hiring on Instagram, “V grateful to be a part of the Who family. Thanks Roger and Pete xx.”

Last week, The Who dismissed Starkey over apparent “issues with the drumming” that occurred during the band’s concerts at Royal Albert Hall. Starkey subsequently confirmed the news, sharing that his bandmates had brought “formal charges of overplaying” against him after their recent Royal Albert Hall shows. Starkey also revealed that he’d suffered from blood clots in his right calf in January, but he insisted they didn’t affect his drumming, adding that he was “surprised and saddened” by the band’s decision.

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