Zak Starkey looked downcast as he was seen for first time since being sacked as drummer for The Who for the second time.

The son of Ringo Starr, 59, was fired from the band last week, just one month after he was sacked then quickly reinstated.

He looked unhappy as he strolled through Manchester BBC Breakfast Studios in Manchester after the news broke, sporting a black parka jacket and tartan trousers.

Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram last week to announce that Zak, the Who’s drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band. 

But Zak quickly took to his own social media to claim that his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band.

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Zak Starkey looked downcast as he was seen for first time since being sacked as drummer for The Who for the second time in Manchester on Tuesday 

He looked unhappy as he strolled through Manchester BBC Breakfast Studios in Manchester after the news broke, sporting a black parka jacket and tartan trousers

Zak’s sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums

Zak’s sacking comes just months ahead of the legendary bands farewell tour across North America and Pete revealed Scott Devours will replace him on drums. 

The statement from Pete read: ‘After many years of great work on drums from Zak the time has come for a change. A poignant time. Zak has lots of new projects in hand and I wish him the best.’ 

In a second post, Pete and Roger Daltrey added: ‘The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20yrs younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. 

‘He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world.

‘Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey’. 

Resharing The Who’s post, Zak hit back: ‘I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. 

‘I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting The Who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x.

‘To clarify “other projects” yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7.’

The son of Ringo Starr, 59, was fired from the band last week, just one month after he was sacked then quickly reinstated 

Guitarist Pete Townshend took to Instagram on Monday to announce that Zak, the Who’s drummer since 1996, was no longer part of the band 

Zak continued to list his other previous projects before adding: ‘Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them. 

‘The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.’ 

But on Monday, Zak again took to his Instagram account to share that his version of events had been contradicted yet again after a phonecall with The Who singer-guitarist Roger.

Zak said Roger told him he hadn’t actually been fired and instead ‘retired to work on his own projects’.

He wrote: ‘NOISE&CONFUSION!!!! I had a great phone chat with Roger at the end of last week which truly confused both of us!!!

‘Rog said I hadn’t been ‘fired’…I had been ‘retired’ to work n my own projects. I explained to Rog that I have just spent nearly 8 weeks at my studio in Jamaica completing these projects, that my group Mantra Of The Cosmos was releasing one single at the beginning of June and after that had run its course ( usually 5/6 weeks ) I was completely available for the foreseeable future….

Zak has since claimed his departure was not a mutual decision and that he was fired from the band

‘Rog said “Oh!” and we kind of left it there- On good terms and great friends as we have always been. 

‘Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say “The mind boggles!!!” XXX.’

It comes weeks after The Who shared the shock news that they will be retiring from touring after 60 years, following a final run of shows in the US later this year.

The legendary rock band shared the news at a London press conference as they announced their farewell tour, which will kick off in July.