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.

Starkey got snarky ahead of his official dismissal, posting a photo of himself and Daltrey branded “The Daily Who Breaking News” with an all-caps message on Instagram: “Heard today from inside source that Toger Daktrey [sic] lead singer and principal songwriter of the group unhappy with Zak the drummer’s performance at the Albert Hall a few weeks ago is bringing formal charges of overplaying and is literally going to Zak the drummer and bring on a reserve from ‘The Burwash Carwash Skiffle ‘N’ Tickle Glee Club Harmony Without Empathy Allstars’ this has been confirmed by whose long time manager Willya Youwontyouknow.