AceShowbiz - In a shock to fans of the legendary rock band The Who, long-time drummer Zak Starkey has been dismissed following a dispute over performance issues.

According to reports, The Who's frontman Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend decided to end their professional relationship with Starkey after their March charity performances at Royal Albert Hall.

A spokesperson for The Who confirmed the split, stating, “The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall. They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.”

The separation comes after the two high-profile shows which were aimed at raising funds for Daltrey's Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity events featured a star-studded audience, including actors Bill Murray, Sadie Frost, Tracy-Ann Oberman, and hypnotist Paul McKenna. Despite the successful turnout, Daltrey and Townshend were reportedly "upset" with Starkey's performances.

A source told the Mirror that Starkey was blindsided by the decision and "upset over being kicked out of the group," describing the situation as "acrimonious."

Further details from Metro highlighted a critical moment during the March 30 performance where Daltrey openly criticized Starkey's drumming style, leading to a heated exchange.

Daltrey purportedly told the crowd, "To sing that song I do need to hear the key, and I can't. All I've got is drums going boom, boom, boom. I can't sing to that. I'm sorry guys."

Zak Starkey, who has been with The Who since 1996, has had a storied career, joining the group during their Quadrophenia Tour and performing at iconic events such as the London 2012 Olympics and the 2010 Super Bowl.

The drummer hasn't responded to his firing, but he seemingly poked fun at their feud just a few days ago. On Instagram, he wrote, "HEARD TODAY FROM INSIDE SOURCE WITHIN WHOSE HORSES NOSE THAT TOGER DAKTREY LEAD SINGER AND PRINCIPAL SONGWRITER OF THE GROUP UNHAPPY WITH ZAK THE DRUMMER’S PERFORMANCE AT THE ALBERT HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO IS BRINGING FORMAL CHARGES OF OVERPLAYING..."

Starkey is also known for his connections to The Beatles through his father, Ringo Starr. His contributions to rock 'n' roll have been extensive, including a stint with Oasis in 2004 to replace drummer Alan White.

Adding to the saga, Daltrey made an unexpected revelation during the March 27 concert, disclosing that he is "slowly going deaf and blind."

Reflecting on the aging process, he said, "The joys of getting old mean you go deaf. I also now have got the joy of going blind. Fortunately, I still have my voice." He humorously added, "because then I'll have a full Tommy," referencing the character from The Who's famous rock opera.

As The Who moves forward without one of its longstanding members, fans and critics alike await to see the band's next steps and whether this decision will alter the band's dynamic and future performances.