Drummer Zak Starkey has rejoined The Who, roughly a year after a chaotic saga saw him fired, briefly rehired, then fired again from the band he had played with for almost 30 years. The reconciliation comes as the veteran rock group prepares for what has been billed as its final run of shows, and follows public confirmation from representatives for both Starkey and the band.

The original fallout began in April 2025 after a minor musical mix-up during a charity gig at the Royal Albert Hall, which sparked heated exchanges between Starkey and singer Roger Daltrey; even guitarist Pete Townshend said he was baffled by the sacking. The Who completed their farewell North American tour in October 2025 with stand-in drummer Scott Devours. Daltrey recently told a Las Vegas audience that rehearsals with Starkey had gone well, and Starkey echoed the sentiment on Instagram, saying he was "so happy to be back". No further Who tour dates have been announced, though Daltrey has said the band's farewell "is not over by any means" beyond America, and he continues his own solo US tour through 29 September.