DRUMMER Zak Starkey gets his musical gifts from father, Ringo Starr.
The Who member used to be part of Oasis, who’ve announced they will be reuniting after more than a decade.
Zak Richard Starkey, 58, has been a drummer for the English rock band, The Who, since 1996.
He is the son of famous Beatles drummer, Richard Starkey, aka Ringo Starr.
Starkey has played with numerous well-known bands including the Spencer Davis Group, The Semantics and the Icicle Works.
In 1985, he joined his father on Sun City by Artists United Against Apartheid.
In 1992 and 1995, he toured with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band.
Starkey performed the role of a session player for four years between 2004 and 2009 for Oasis.
He travelled as a sideman on the year-long Oasis tour that followed and appeared in promotional videos for the associated singles.
The drummer reportedly fell out with Noel Gallagher subsequently departing in 2008 and was replaced by Chris Sharrock.
Starkey has been manning the kit for The Who since 1996.
However, shortly before the pandemic, Starkey was approached with an idea about putting together a new group centered around his songwriting and production.
Some ideas were tossed around but put on hold as Starkey and wife / bandmate, Sharna Liguz, spent time in Jamaica running their label, Trojan Records.
First to join the group was Oasis guitarist Andy Bell and was followed shortly thereafter by Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder and percussionist DJ Bez.
Bassist Brix Smith was the last to join the project dubbed Mantra of the Cosmos.
Starkey has two daughters, Tatia Jayne Starkey, 38, and Luna Lee Lightnin, three.
Tatia comes from Starkey’s previous marriage to Sarah Menikides, according to Closer Weekly.
The Airbnb hosts cancelled after Googling me and seeing Oasis and The Who – the two worst-behaved bands in the history of rock ’n’ roll.
Zak Starkey
He shares Luna with now-wife, Liguz, 39.
Starkey and Liguz were together for 18 years before getting married on March 21, 2022, in California.
The bride wore Alexander MQueen and was given away by her father, photographer Andrzej Liguz and the groom, by his father Ringo.
Pato Banton was the officiant for the ceremony and the newlyweds were joined by best men Eddie Vedder and Johnny Marr.
Starkey took to Instagram to share a photo and statement on his big day, which was also their daughter’s first birthday.
She wrote: “Great to be solid with the greatest girl in the world.
“And to celebrate Luna’s No. 1 birthday. Thanks to everyone who came from near, far, wide, abstract and online.
“Our dearest friends in da USA- great to see u at our wedding and experience true party stamina. Feels great to be wed to the woman I have loved for 18 years.”
Other guests included Augusta Tigrett, Lady Barbara Starkey, Eliza Cummings, Jill Vedder, Kelly Cutrone, Amos Pizzey, Lisa I’Anson, Jules Wood, Wayne Jobson, Nick Launay and Alexandra Baker.
In August 2024, Starkey admitted he was banned from renting out a plush manor house after the owners discovered he planned to use it for a huge birthday bash.
He attempted to buy out a fancy Victorian mansion in order to celebrate his wife Sharna Liguz’s 40th birthday.
Starkey tried to book the six-bedroom house, reportedly in Cadmore End in the Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, for three nights via AirBnb.
However, when he visited the home to look around before agreeing to renting it, a chat with the cleaners proved to be his downfall.
He told The Mirror: “The Airbnb hosts cancelled after Googling me and seeing Oasis and The Who – the two worst-behaved bands in the history of rock ’n’ roll .
“It would look great on a T-shirt.”
On August 27, 2024, Liam and Noel announced they will be going back on tour.
They’ll be making their comeback with 14 gigs across the UK and Ireland in the summer of 2025.
Four dates have been scheduled for their hometown of Manchester.
If the tour proves successful, it could be expanded to European and American cities too.
There are also discussions about a possible headline spot at Glastonbury Festival next summer.
There has been no confirmation of whether Starkey will be joining the tour.
