Zak Starkey breaks silence after The Who exit: ‘I still have to work for a living’ — and fires back at ‘nepo kid’ myths surrounding Beatles’ children
Zak Starkey has finally addressed the growing assumptions surrounding his wealth and status, insisting that life after his split from The Who is far from the lavish fantasy many imagine.
The veteran drummer, 59, who is the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr, made it clear that reports exaggerating his net worth are wide of the mark — and that, unlike some fellow “rock royalty offspring,” he has always had to earn his living the hard way.
“People think I’m sitting on millions,” Starkey reportedly said, pushing back against comparisons with Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison. “But their fathers are gone. They inherited estates. My dad is very much alive.”
The blunt remark has reignited debate around so-called “nepo kids” in rock music — and whether the children of legends truly understand the grind that built their parents’ empires.
Not living off a famous last name
While Starkey has never denied the doors his surname may have opened, he is quick to point out that talent — not lineage — is what kept him working for decades.
He has played drums for two of the biggest bands in modern music history: The Who and Oasis, earning respect in an industry notoriously ruthless toward unproven musicians.
“Zak wasn’t hired because he’s Ringo Starr’s son,” a longtime collaborator once noted. “He was hired because he could play.”
And play he did — consistently, professionally, and without the safety net many assume comes with Beatle blood.
Shutting down the ‘Beatles kids band’ fantasy
Starkey also addressed a recent online narrative suggesting he should form a supergroup with Sean Lennon, James McCartney, and Dhani Harrison — an idea he dismissed outright.
According to Starkey, the proposal ignores a fundamental truth: the children of The Beatles did not live the lives their fathers endured.
“They had it too easy,” he said plainly, adding that none of them — himself included — could fully comprehend the brutal early years John, Paul, George, and Ringo survived.
Those years included relentless touring, financial uncertainty, and gruelling residencies in Hamburg — where The Beatles famously played marathon sets night after night.
‘Blood, sweat, tears’ — not overnight success
The musician’s comments struck a chord with fans who feel the Beatles’ story is often misunderstood by younger generations.
Far from appearing “out of nowhere,” the band clawed their way to the top through sheer endurance.
As John Lennon once put it:
“While everyone else was fooling around, we were working 24 hours a day.”
They were mocked for their Liverpool roots, denied industry backing, and paid next to nothing in their early years — earning every pound and every ounce of fame the hard way.
A rare exception
Starkey did acknowledge one notable exception among Beatles’ offspring: Julian Lennon, who has spoken openly about hardship, estrangement, and forging his own path without institutional support.
For the rest, Starkey suggests, the mythology of inherited struggle simply doesn’t hold up.
A grounded voice in a gilded legacy
In an era where celebrity children are increasingly scrutinized, Zak Starkey’s comments stand out for their honesty — and lack of self-pity.
He isn’t denying privilege.
He’s denying fantasy.
And in doing so, he’s reminding fans that even within the most legendary bloodlines in music history, respect is still something that must be earned — one gig at a time.
