The Godson Zak Starkey

Drummers World Keith Moon, Zak Starkey

Zak Starkey , the son of Beatle great Ringo Starr (aka Richard Starkey), and godson of the late great Keith Moon is the fourth and current drummer of the Who.

Zak was born on September 13, 1965 to Ringo Starr and his first wife, Maureen Cox. By age 8 Zak was interested in music. After having one lesson from his father he started teaching himself how to play the drums. Ringo, always praising his son's brilliant ability, actually never planed on having him follow in his drumming footsteps. He has said that he saw his son as a lawyer or a doctor.  

Ringo Starr and Keith Moon were very close friends in the 70's.  Keith became Zak's godfather and he gave Zak his first professional drum set. By age 12 Zak was already playing in a band and touring the pub scene. In 1994 his mother died of leukemia, despite a bone marrow transplant in which Zak was the donor.

Prior to joining the Who,  Starkey had worked with John Entwistle in Ringo Starr and his All Star Band and on Entwistle's album The Rock.  Zak also played various dates on the Daltrey Sings Townshend tour. In 1996 Starkey left his band Face, to fulfill his childhood dream and join the Who on their Quadrophenia tour, thus becoming the Who's fourth drummer. Both Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend have said that Starkey is the best drummer the Who has ever had since the death of Keith Moon. Starkey is a powerful drummer without explicitly imitating Moon.

Because of his commitments with Oasis, Starkey played on only one track, "Black Widow's Eyes",  on the Who's 2006 Endless Wire album.  He also played on "Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine", which were two new tracks on the Who 2004 compilation, Then and Now. 

Pete Townshend has asked Starkey to join the Who as a permanent member. Unfortunately, Starkey turned him down because of his commitments with Oasis. Townshend has said that his invitation will always remain open. Starkey has since become a permanent member of Oasis, however in May 2008  that relationship ended.  We can only hope that Zak Starkey takes advantage of that open invitation and becomes a permanent member of the Who.

Like his father before, Zak uses Zildjian cymbals and equipment.