Zak Starkey has confirmed that he has returned as The Who’s drummer after a turbulent 2025 in which he was dismissed, reinstated and then dismissed again. Roger Daltrey also told a Las Vegas audience that the band had been rehearsing with Starkey and that it sounded great, suggesting their relationship has been repaired and further live performances may follow.

Starkey, who has played with The Who since 1996, said the new rehearsal was unusually demanding and that he was looking forward to performing with the band again. His initial departure reportedly followed tension during a Teenage Cancer Trust concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, while the band’s 2025 North American dates had been advertised as a farewell tour; however, Daltrey and Pete Townshend have indicated they may not yet be ready to retire The Who.