Sir Ringo Starr‘s musician son Zak Starkey has said he feared he would die as he spoke for the first time since he cancelled gigs after he was diagnosed with a blood clot.
Zak, 59, had been set to take the stage with his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos – including Happy Mondays vocalist Shaun Ryder, 62, Oasis guitarist Andy Bell, 54, percussionist Mark ‘Bez‘ Berry, 60, and Noel Gallagher, 57, – when he received the alarming health alert, leading him to withdraw from a London gig last Tuesday, hours ahead of showtime.
He has now revealed that the blood clot in his right leg has forced him to rest for two weeks on doctors orders, and he has been prescribed blood thinners for the hazardous health condition.
Zak told the MailOnline: ‘At first I thought maybe I just pulled a hamstring or something because that’s where the pain started on the knee and then the MRI scan showed nothing and then an ultrasound showed it the next day.
‘So we had to pull the gig and I was told to go home straight away. I’m on blood thinners and that should move it you know but it wasn’t ideal news.
‘I am a little bit worried but they said a couple of weeks should be alright. It should be able to dissipate but there is a worry if you move it too much and it hits something major.
Sir Ringo Starr’s musician son Zak Starkey has said he feared he would die as he spoke for the first time since he cancelled gigs after he was diagnosed with a blood clot (Seen last week)
Zak, 59, had been set to take the stage with his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos – including Happy Mondays vocalist Shaun Ryder, 62, Oasis guitarist Andy Bell, 54, percussionist Mark ‘Bez’ Berry, 60, and Noel Gallagher, 57, when he had to pull out (Seen in June 2023)
‘If it hits your lungs or your heart or your brain you’re in deep sh**. Or deep earth.’
Earlier this month, Zak, who has been drumming for four decades with bands including The Who and Oasis, performed at The Cavern Club – the Liverpool venue where his father’s band The Beatles played – for the first time.
The musician admitted that taking to the famous stage, once a mainstay of the Fab Four, for three gigs left him ‘shThe musician admitted that taking to the famous stage, once a mainstay of the Fab Four, for three gigs left him ‘sh***ing it’***ing it’.
It is also where Sir Ringo first crossed paths with Ed’s mother Maureen Tigrett, who the Beatle was wed to from 1965 to 1975.
Zak joined his friend and fellow former Oasis drummer Chris Sharrock for a double drumming session last Saturday alongside the Cavern Club’s Beatles tribute band.
Zak said: ‘I was extremely nervous and I never get nervous. I’ve just been on stage since I was 12. It’s never ever phased me but that really phase me.
‘I was just thinking this is holy music and as soon as I got on stage it did pick me up.
‘I was chatting with Noel Gallagher before and telling him how much I was shitting it. His advice was “Get yourself down there and get on with it”.’
Zak received an alarming health alert, which lead him to withdraw from a London gig last Tuesday, hours ahead of showtime (Seen with dad Ringo in 2016)
Earlier this month, Zak, who has been drumming for four decades with bands including The Who and Oasis, performed at The Cavern Club – the Liverpool venue where his father’s band The Beatles played – for the first time
Zak has now revealed that the blood clot in his right leg has forced him to rest for two weeks on doctors orders (Seen in 2023)
Zak’s band mates remained at the venue on Tuesday after he was forced to skip the gig.
In lieu of a live show, patrons watched film of a performance from the group Sunday filmed in the hallowed Beatles ground of Liverpool at the Cavern Club.
‘First of all, can I say how special it was to play the Cavern with Zak Starkey,’ Bez told The Independent at the time.
‘He’s never been to the Cavern before and it felt special … it was better than anything I ever imagined in my life.’
Bez added: ‘I couldn’t believe how good it was … to play there … I had to show off right at the end.
The musician admitted that taking to the Cavern Club stage, once a mainstay of the Fab Four, for three gigs left him ‘sh***ing it’ (Seen with dad Ringo in 1995)
‘His f***ing dad’s Ringo Starr! Know what I mean? We felt like the Beatles – well, I did for a little moment.’
Zak told the BBC on Monday prior to his health crisis that he felt as if he had been ‘picked up and carried by the music’ while performing at the Cavern Club.
He said: ‘We set up two kits and we double drummed the Beatles show.
‘I’ve never been nervous in my life – I’ve been on stage since I was 12 years old – but it’s holy music. I know it, but I don’t know the drum bit.’
