Zak Starkey has spoken out about his apparent firing from The Who after a nearly 30-year run, saying in a statement that he was shocked to hear that, according to reports, singer Roger Daltrey had taken issue with his playing at a recent Royal Albert Hall show in London.

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.

Zak Starkey is “surprised and saddened” by reports drama forced him from The Who after nearly three decades with the band.