The Foo Fighters and drummer Josh Freese have parted ways. The news comes two years after he was tapped to replace Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins following his death.
Freese shared the news via an Instagram statement on Friday, May 16th that the had been let go from the band: “The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given. Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry–just a bit shocked and disappointed. But as most of you know I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine … Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reason Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”
Freese was hired in March 2023 to replace Taylor Hawkins, following his unexpected passing in March 2022 while the band was on tour in South America. Aside from his work with Foo Fighters, Freese has also been the drummer for Devo since 1996 and has played with bands like Guns n’ Roses and Nine Inch Nails.
The band has been inactive since its last show in August 2024, after frontman and founder Dave Grohl revealed that he had fathered a child outside of his marriage to Jordyn Blum, his wife of more than 20 years. Per The Hollywood Reporter, a representative for the Foo Fighters didn’t immediately respond to request for comment on Freese’s firing, and it’s unclear who the band’s next drummer will be. The band’s next scheduled performance is this fall after F1 Qualifying during the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, October 4th. Elton John, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Crowded House are among the rock headliners of the three day event, set for October 3-5, at the Marina Bay Grandstand.
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