![]() ![]() With so many diverse accomplishments under his belt, Zak is definitely a drummer whose footsteps one would want to follow in. He swears by Zildjian cymbals, touting them as, “the best in the world.” He’s also rather partial to Drum Workshop Drums and Remo Drum Heads. Though a fancy kit does not make a great drummer, good equipment makes a skilled drummer shine brighter.Īs all musicians can attest, once we find gear that works for us, we tend to be loyal to it. Though he’s not divulging the entire list, he has said that many of reggae’s core artists and originators, legends really, will be part of this project. He sees the similarities in the messages that blues and reggae carry and has gathered an illustrious list of reggae artists who, along with his Sshh bandmate Sharna “Sshh” Liguz, are recording a project titled “Red, Gold, Green and Blue.” In January of this year (2019), Zak took a trip to Jamaica to pursue a project that he’s been dreaming of for many years. In each of these he brought his own personal flair, without taking away from the established sound each was known for. In 1996 Zak began playing live shows with The Who on their second tour promoting their classic 1973 album, Quadrophenia, which was truly kismet, as that album was one that he used to play along with as a child. Luckily, the opportunity was still available when that band broke up a couple short years later, freeing him to readily accepted the offer to play drums with legendary band, The Who, and fulfilling a childhood fantasy of his. He turned this opportunity down, however, being loyal to the band Face, which he was then a part of. It wasn’t until John Entwistle heard him playing in a small pub that he got a chance to play in larger, more notable venues. He truly did want to prove his worthiness as a drummer on his own merit. During this time, he paid his dues, lugging his kit from gig to gig.Įven though he decided early on that music was a part of his being, he never once turned to his father or the close family friend, Keith Moon, in order to gain momentum in his career. He began playing in small, unknown bands in the music scene of the UK as early as age twelve. It did not take long before he felt confident to begin writing and rehearsing original music with one of his friends. Listening almost exclusively to Keith Moon, John Bonham, Billy Cobham, and Clem Burke, Zak would play for hours. His father observed this diligence and bought him his first drum kit given at the age of 11, “a Ludwig kit with a 20-inch bass drum, 12 and 14-inch toms, and a piccolo snare” (1) and set up in the kitchen of his family’s home. He spent countless hours listening to his favorite musicians. He quickly proved that he was dedicated to improving his skills. Once mastered, his father advised him to play along with drummers he admired, via headphones. ![]() Zak’s first lessons were from his father, who made him master the basics of keeping time, playing quarter notes in time with his favorite songs, which included artist The Who and T. ![]() It wasn’t until he sat in front of his father’s kit at the age of 10 that he began to feel drawn to the drums.Īt which point, his father asked him if he’d like to learn to play. The performance he witnessed by this iconic figure made him desire center stage. In fact, in his early years, Zak has often stated that he wanted to be Marc Bolan. Growing up surrounded by drumming legends such as his father, and their close family friend Keith Moon, did not initially sway him toward the drums as his chosen instrument. He was mesmerized and enthralled! He vividly recalls how this one concert profoundly affected him, effectively lighting the spark of his lifelong love of music. In fact, his father believed that he would likely become a doctor, lawyer, or some such.Įarly influences wouldn’t kick off his drumming careerĪt the age of six Zak’s world was transformed in a single evening. Ringo never expected that his son would actually follow in his footsteps. However, Ringo allowed Zak to pave his own way, free to pursue whatever career he felt drawn to. As the first-born son of rock star royalty Ringo Starr, one might expect that Zak Starkey would have had his path into the world of music paved for him from an early age. ![]()
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