“I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry — just a bit shocked and disappointed,” said Freese, who filled the vacancy left by the late Taylor Hawkins
Josh Freese has been let go from the Foo Fighters two years after being tapped to fill the vacancy left by the late Taylor Hawkins.
Freese revealed the decision in a statement shared on Instagram, saying the Foo Fighters called him earlier this week to let him know that they had decided “to go in a different direction with their drummer.” Freese added, “No reason was given,” and later joked, “Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”
Freese continued: “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.”
A rep for the Foo Fighters did not immediately return Rolling Stone’s request for comment. The band has yet to share a statement of their own, nor have they said who will replace Freese. The band has not performed live since last fall and they have no concerts scheduled for 2025, outside an Oct. 4 performance at the F1 Singapore Grand Prix.
Freese joined the Foo Fighters in May 2023 as the band prepared to embark on their first tour since Hawkins’ sudden death in March 2022. (He was also among the many drummers who performed with the Foo Fighters during their tribute concert to Hawkins in 2022.) Prior to joining the Foos, Freese was an in-demand session and live drummer who’d played with everyone from Guns N’ Roses and Nine Inch Nails to Paramore and Devo. He is currently on the road with A Perfect Circle.
