Josh Freese has spoken out about his unexpected firing from Foo Fighters earlier this year.
The prolific drummer - whose resume includes stints with Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Devo, A Perfect Circle, and countless others - joined Foo Fighters in 2023 following the tragic passing of Taylor Hawkins.
Speaking about his stint with the Foos, Freese told The New York Times that playing with the band carried a heavy burden.
“I’m coming in as Dave Grohl’s drummer, and the guy that’s supposed to save the day after the beloved Taylor Hawkins died,” Freese admitted. Taking over for Hawkins, a close friend, left him feeling “like I had to be firing on all cylinders all the time.”
Despite the pressure, Freese says he embraced the challenge and found the three-hour-plus gigs rewarding, which is why he felt ‘blindsided’ when he was let go without explanation.
“Looking back, it was probably more an issue with their management,” Freese said, while choosing his words carefully, The NYT reports.
“It wasn’t music that I really resonated with,” he added.
Foo Fighters declined to comment for the article, though Dave Grohl later praised Freese’s “thunderous wizardry” in a social media post.
In early August, Freese rejoined Nine Inch Nails, a band he’d previously toured with from 2005 to 2008.
Ironically, his replacement behind the Foo Fighters kit is reportedly drummer Ilan Rubin - formerly of Nine Inch Nails.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Freese said of the unexpected wife-swap situation. “But Ilan’s a phenomenal drummer, a phenomenal musician. He’ll be perfect for the gig.”
