Foo Fighters Part Ways with Drummer Josh Freese

Foo Fighters spent several months deliberating the future of drummer Josh Freese before ultimately deciding to part ways with him last summer. Freese had joined the band following the tragic death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, stepping into a challenging role during a turbulent period for the rock group.

Speaking to Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, frontman Dave Grohl clarified that the decision was made collectively by the band and “didn’t happen overnight.” He said, “In those six or seven months, as a band, we talked about what to do next, a new direction, and thought, ‘OK, let’s call Josh and let him know that we are going to move on with a different drummer.’ We called, as a band, all of us called, it wasn’t just me.”

Grohl emphasised that the conversation with Freese was respectful and appreciative. “Basically, we called Josh, and were like, ‘Hey man, that was awesome. That was such a blast, thank you so much, but we are going to move on and find another drummer,’” he said.

Freese’s departure paved the way for Ilan Rubin of Nine Inch Nails to step in as the new drummer. Meanwhile, Freese has returned to performing with Nine Inch Nails and has also joined shows with Weezer, emphasising that he remains enthusiastic about his musical career.

In an interview with Modern Drummer magazine, Freese insisted that there was no need for sympathy regarding his exit, stating, “Someone recently said to me, ‘Man, you’ve had a tough year.’ And I thought, Really? The Foo Fighters thing is over. Big deal, that was a blip. I’ve been touring with Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle again, playing some shows with Weezer, working in the studio with everyone from Danny Elfman to Billy Idol. I feel like I’m back where I belong. Trust me, no one should feel sorry for me.”

Despite his positive outlook, Freese admitted he was initially “in shock” at being let go. “The day it went down, I was hanging out on a day off with A Perfect Circle and the Primus guys. Everyone was in shock and asking me what the hell happened. One day it was nothing but laughs, we’re on stage and Dave’s looking at me every night like, ‘You’re killing it dude!’ And then it was just over,” he recalled.

Freese described his dismissal as still somewhat mysterious, acknowledging that the reasoning behind it remains unclear. “I have a couple of small theories, but I can’t really go into them right now. I did really enjoy the two years I spent with those guys, and they were good to me until they weren’t,” he said, reflecting on his time with the band.