Zak Starkey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zak Starkey |
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Starkey performing with the Who in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Zak Richard Starkey |
| Born | 13 September 1965 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Genres |
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| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | |
Zak Richard Starkey (born 13 September 1965) is a British rock drummer. He is famous for playing with the legendary band the Who since 1996. He also played drums for Oasis. Zak has worked with many other musicians and bands. He is the son of the Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr. His mother was Maureen Starkey.
Contents
Early Life and Learning Drums
Zak Richard Starkey was born in London on September 13, 1965. His dad is Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles. His mom was Maureen Starkey. Zak grew up in Surrey and Berkshire, England. He went to Highgate School in London.
When Zak was eight, he got a drum kit from the Who's drummer, Keith Moon. Keith Moon was a close friend of Zak's dad and was also Zak's godfather. Keith Moon, who Zak called "Uncle Keith," talked to him about drumming.
Zak taught himself to play the drums. His dad, Ringo Starr, only gave him one lesson. Ringo wanted Zak to be a lawyer or a doctor, not a musician. But Zak loved drumming. Kenney Jones, another drummer for the Who, helped teach Zak. By age twelve, Zak was already playing in pubs with his band, the Next. After Keith Moon passed away, Kenney Jones gave Zak a white drum kit that used to belong to Moon.
Zak's Music Career
Early Bands and Collaborations
In the early 1980s, Zak played with the Spencer Davis Group. He also joined a band called the Semantics. He played drums on their album Powerbill.
In 1985, Zak played on a solo album by John Entwistle, who was the bass player for the Who. Zak also joined the Icicle Works in 1988. He played on one of their songs. In 1989, Zak played on the album Silver and Gold by Adrian Smith, a guitarist from Iron Maiden.
Playing with His Dad: Ringo Starr
Zak joined his father, Ringo Starr, for the song "Sun City" in 1985. From 1992 to 1995, Zak toured with Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. He even played at Ringo Starr's 70th birthday party in New York City in 2010. He joined his dad and other famous musicians like Yoko Ono and Jeff Lynne on stage.
Drumming for The Who
In 1994, Zak toured with Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle from the Who. In 1996, he officially joined the Who for their Quadrophenia tour. People loved his drumming. Music critics said he played strongly without trying to copy the original drummer, Keith Moon. Both Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey said Zak was the best drummer for the band since Keith Moon.
On October 20, 2001, Zak played with the Who at the Concert for New York City. This was a big show after the events of 9/11. The Who's performance was called one of the "50 moments that changed rock and roll" by Rolling Stone magazine. Zak also played with the Who at the Super Bowl XLIV half-time show in 2010.
Zak was busy with Oasis in 2006, so he only played on one song for the Who's album Endless Wire. But he joined them for their tour. The Who even asked Zak to become a full member, but he preferred to keep his options open.
Zak continued to play with the Who for many important events. He played at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in London. He also played at the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Zak has been on many of the Who's tours, including the "Who Hits 50!" tour.
Playing with Johnny Marr & the Healers
In 2000, Zak helped start the band Johnny Marr & the Healers. Their first album, Boomslang, came out in 2003. They then went on a world tour.
Drumming for Oasis
In 2004, Zak joined the famous Britpop band Oasis. He played drums on their album Don't Believe the Truth (2005). He recorded almost all the songs on that album. Zak said playing with Oasis was "amazing" because everyone in the band was talented.
Zak toured with Oasis for a year. He was not an official member at first, but he was invited to join permanently. However, he had commitments with the Who. In 2007, Zak appeared with Oasis when they won a BRIT Award for their great contribution to music. He also played on their 2008 album, Dig Out Your Soul. He later left Oasis in 2008.
Penguins Rising and SSHH
In 2008, Zak formed a band called Penguins Rising with his partner, Sharna Liguz. His daughter, Tatia, was also in the original lineup. They released an album called Hatemale in 2011. Later, Zak and Sharna formed a duo called SSHH. They recorded songs that had influenced them, often with the original musicians from those songs.
Music in Jamaica
Zak built a music studio in Jamaica. In 2016, he started a record label called Trojan Jamaica. The label focuses on music from Jamaica, as well as soul and blues from America. He has worked as a producer and guitarist on several albums for this label. One album, Got To Be Tough by Toots and the Maytals, even won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album!
Personal Life
In 1985, Zak married Sarah Menikides. They had a daughter named Tatia Jayne, who was born in 1985. They separated in 2006 and later divorced in 2021.
Zak married his long-time partner, Sharna Liguz, on March 21, 2022. They chose this date because their daughter, Luna Lee Lightnin, was born on the same day a year earlier. The wedding was in California. Famous musicians Eddie Vedder and Johnny Marr were Zak's best men.
Associated Acts
- The Icicle Works (1988)
- Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band (1992–1995)
- The Semantics (1992–1993)
- Roger Daltrey (1994–1995)
- Face (1995–1996)
- The Who (1996–present)
- The Lightning Seeds (1997–2000)
- Johnny Marr and the Healers (2000–2003)
- Oasis (2004–2008)
Discography
- Artists United Against Apartheid – Sun City (1985)
- Roger Daltrey – Under a Raging Moon (1985)
- ASAP – Silver and Gold (1989)
- Ringo Starr – Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band (1990)
- Ringo Starr – Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band Volume 2: Live from Montreux (1993)
- Tony Martin – Back Where I Belong (1992)
- Moody Marsden Band – Never Turn Our Back on the Blues (1992)
- Robert Hart – Robert Hart (1992)
- Eikichi Yazawa – Anytime Woman (1992)
- The Semantics – Powerbill (1996)
- John Entwistle – The Rock (1996)
- Simon Townshend – Among Us (1996)
- Ringo Starr – Ringo Starr and His Third All-Starr Band Volume 1 (1996)
- Eddie Hardin – Wizard's Convention, Vol. 2 (1997)
- The Lightning Seeds – Like You Do (1997)
- The Lightning Seeds – Tilt (1999)
- Sasha – Surfin' on a Backbeat (2001)
- Johnny Marr and the Healers – Boomslang (2003)
- The Who – Then and Now (2004)
- Oasis – Don't Believe the Truth (2005)
- The Who – Endless Wire (2006)
- Paul Weller and Graham Coxon – "This Old Town" (2007)
- Broken English – The Rough with the Smooth (2007)
- Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul (2008)
- SSHH – Issues (2016)
- Various – Red Gold Green & Blue (2019)
- The Who – Who (2019)
- Toots and the Maytals – Got to Be Tough (2020)
- U-Roy – Solid Gold (2021)
- Mick Fleetwood & Friends – Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac (2021)
See also
In Spanish: Zak Starkey para niños
