Well, it seems Zak Starkey is back in the Who ranks again. That’s a surprise in many ways. He and the band had quite a public fallout last year. Even now it’s hard to tell what happened. It might have been a decision triggered by Roger Daltrey, or perhaps Pete Townshend intervened. But one way or another, Starkey and the band went their separate ways.
Now both Starkey and Daltrey have revealed the drummer has been back in rehearsals with the Who again. Now that raises plenty of questions. Among the serious ones, I can't help also thinking what would be on Starkey’s mind as he played “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
Daltrey is currently on a solo tour in the US. He seems in good form and enjoying being back on stage again. In between songs, there is plenty of chat and stories, and that’s where he let slip the return of Starkey. Daltrey is pleased to have the drummer back and reckoned the regrouped Who line-up was sounding great in rehearsals.
The Who back in rehearsals, but for what?
Starkey has also spoken about the rehearsals. Delighted to be back with the band he played with for over 30 years, he spoke highly too of an afternoon spent together in a rehearsal room. And that’s where the big questions come in.
Exactly what are the Who rehearsing for? Last year they completed their farewell tour, The Song Is Over, in the US. But then back in 1982 they had their carefully titled First Farewell Tour. Perhaps, unlike that earlier effort, last year’s will be final. But only in terms of the US. A goodbye to playing live around Europe, and of course the UK, always seemed likely.
They could venture further afield, but perhaps the days of long, drawn-out tour dates are behind them. A shorter distance and length in Europe or around their homeland seem much more likely. Like other bands of that era, you also wouldn't rule out special appearances and one-off gigs. Charity events for the likes of the Daltrey-backed Teenage Cancer Trust will surely also be on the agenda.
Then there is a different possibility. What about new music and an album? That appeared out of the question for a while. But earlier this year Townshend commented on the prospect of another Who album. It had been shelved when their 2019 album Who didn't go down well.
Townshend indicated that he was up for it and that Daltrey, previously opposed to the idea, was more open to it now. Who knows, maybe that's the answer to what the rehearsals were for.
Add us as a preferred source on Google