Drummer Zak Starkey said he is “surprised and saddened” in his first comments since he was kicked out of the Hall of Fame rock band The Who. “I’m very proud of my near thirty years with The Who. Filling the shoes of my Godfather,

Starkey, the son of Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr, was the drummer for The Who since 1996’s Quadrophenia tour, is apparently no longer in the band following a disagreement that occurred during their show last month at Royal Albert Hall.

Pete Townshend clarified Starkey’s status with the band after the drummer, who is the son of The Beatles’ Sir Ringo Starr and godson of The Who’s original member Keith Moon, issued a statement earlier this week saying he was parting ways with them.