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Ever since drummer Josh Freese<\/a> was\u00a0let go by Foo Fighters back in May<\/a> (two years after he replaced<\/a> the late Taylor Hawkins<\/a>), he \u2013 as well as fans \u2013 have been asking one basic question: \u201cWhy?\u201d Well, during his appearance on SiriusXM\u2019s Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk<\/a><\/em>, Freese revealed that he still doesn\u2019t know precisely why he was fired from Foo Fighters<\/a> (but he has some ideas that he won’t share).<\/p>\n Per Blabbermouth<\/a>, the Dec. 10 episode of Eddie Trunk<\/a>\u2019s show saw the rock radio personality ask Freese if he\u2019s had \u201cany clarity\u201d on the firing. Freese replied (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):<\/p>\n Not really. I mean, I’ve got a couple of theories, but I feel like people are so interested in that because they’re such a massive band that I’m kind of hesitant to comment at all about it yet because anything I say is gonna be used and thrown around and republished and reposted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He also clarified: \u201cI loved my time I spent down there. I had a great couple of years with those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n As Loudwire<\/a> reported at the time, Freese posted a statement<\/a> to Instagram on May 16 in which he said:<\/p>\n The Foo Fighters called me Monday night [May 12] to let me know they’ve decided “to go in a different direction with their drummer.” No reason was given. \ud83d\ude41 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 Reasons Josh Got Booted From the Foo Fighters” list.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To his credit, Freese actually created and published the list<\/a> on Instagram a few days later, with some of the most intriguing tongue-in-cheek reasons being that he \u201conce whistled \u2018My Hero\u2019 for a week solid on tour\u201d; that he \u201ccould only name on Fugazi<\/a> song”; and that he \u201crefused to perform unless he was guaranteed a Ouija board and nunchucks after every show.\u201d<\/p>\n Inspired by his gesture, Loudwire then made a list of 14 drummers who could replace Freese in Foo Fighters<\/a>, including Matt Cameron<\/a> (Soundgarden<\/a>, ex-Pearl Jam<\/a>), Chad Smith<\/a> (Red Hot Chili Peppers<\/a>) and of course, Shane Hawkins<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ultimately, and in a cosmic act of balance, Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails switched drummers<\/a>. You see, Freese returned to Trent Reznor<\/a>\u2019s band (where he served as a touring member from 2005 to 2008) and NIN<\/a>\u2019s Ilan Rubin \u2013 who replaced Freese\u00a0in NIN in 2009 \u2013 went to Foo Fighters<\/a>.<\/p>\n Foo Fighters\u00a0have since played live with Rubin<\/a>, as well as released their first new song with him<\/a> (\u201cAsking for a Friend\u201d).<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that over the summer, Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl<\/a> shared a recollection\/tribute in honor of the band\u2019s 30th anniversary. In it, he thanked members both past and present and included Freese:<\/p>\n It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of [original Foo Fighters drummer]\u00a0William Goldsmith<\/a>, the seasoned wisdom of [ex-guitarist] Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete, so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n READ MORE: The 50 Best Rock and Metal Albums of the Last 25 Years (2000-2024)<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking of his swapping places with Rubin, Freese also told Trunk (via Blabbermouth) that \u201cit\u2019s funny because it\u2019s just coincidence the way it worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n He added:<\/p>\n It’s not like there was a purposeful drum swap. And, actually, if Ilan, who was playing with Nine Inch Nails, who joined the band after I left in 2009, if he left Nine Inch Nails to go join \u2014 pick a band \u2014 Muse<\/a>, I don’t know, Trent would’ve called me. It’s not like it was an intentional swap. It’s like when Trent needed a drummer, when Ilan split, he was, like, \u201cWell, I’m gonna call Freese.\u201d And he called me and I was, like, \u201cHell yeah.\u201d Because I missed working with Trent and I loved working with him the last time I did it back between ’05 and ’09. And it just so happens to be he needed a drummer because his drummer was going to join the band that I just was let go from. So it was just completely coincidence that that that’s the way that that worked.<\/p>\n You know what I mean? It wasn’t premeditated, it wasn’t worked out by anybody. It was just kind of, like, \u201cWell, I need a drummer. Sure, I’ll call Josh. Oh, how funny. I’m calling Josh because I need a drummer, because my drummer just left to work with the band that Josh just left.’ [Laughs] So it was just pure coincidence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After a lengthy period of speculation following the March 2022 passing of Taylor Hawkins, Josh Freese was officially announced as Foo Fighters\u2019 new drummer in May of 2023<\/a>. As Loudwire wrote at the time, Freese was a \u201cveteran rock drummer, playing with\u00a0the\u00a0Vandals<\/a>,\u00a0Devo<\/a>,\u00a0Guns N’ Roses<\/a>,\u00a0A Perfect Circle<\/a>,\u00a0Nine Inch Nails<\/a>,\u00a0Weezer<\/a>\u00a0and many more bands. According to\u00a0his profile on the international recorded music database Discogs<\/a>,\u00a0Freese is credited for performing on more than 400 albums.\u201d<\/p>\n Endearingly, the news was met with massive praise<\/a> by fellow rockers and fans of each artist.<\/p>\n For instance, Billy Idol<\/a> guitarist Steve Stevens<\/a> remarked: \u201cFoo Fighters could not have made a better decision. @joshfreese is the best of the best. @foofighters.” Similarly, Dashboard Confessional<\/a> drummer Chris Kamrada<\/a> shared: \u201cMy biggest drumming inspiration and probably the main reason i didn\u2019t give up when my first band stopped touring. he\u2019s living proof of what it takes to handle playing for so many different respectable artists. well done, foo fighters. #riptaylor.”<\/p>\n Plus, one fan tweeted<\/a>: \u201cJosh Freese is the new live drummer for Foo Fighters. He was phenomenal at the tribute shows last year, so well deserved. Delighted Foo Fighters have found the strength to continue on without Taylor. What a band.\u201d<\/p>\n In May of 2024, Freese honored Hawkins<\/a> on the first anniversary of the latter\u2019s death by reflecting on his time in Foo Fighters thus far. \u201cI continue to miss Taylor as does the band, his family, friends and the rest of the world. We [Foo Fighters] also continue to try and make the most of the situation by moving forward and doing what we love doing… playing music, honoring Taylor and staying positive,\u201d Freese wrote on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although Freese never appeared on a Foo Fighters album \u2013 their last, 2023\u2019s But Here We Are<\/a><\/em>, saw Grohl taking over drum duties \u2013 he obviously played many<\/em> concerts with them.<\/p>\n Last month, Freese released his latest collection \u2013 Just A Minute, Vol. 2<\/em> \u2013 which obviously follows 2021\u2019s Just A Minute, Vol. 1<\/em> and maintained its predecessors gimmick of including 25 one-minute tracks into a 25-minute sequence. It received a very positive review from Kerrang!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n As for Foo Fighters \u2013 and in addition to the \u201cAsking for a Friend\u201d song \u2013 they\u2019ll be playing selected dates across the world throughout 2026 (including a stop at Welcome to Rockville<\/a>\u00a0in Daytona, Fla. next May). Along the way, they\u2019ll\u00a0share the stage with\u00a0IDLES<\/a>, Queens of the Stone Age<\/a>, Mannequin Pussy<\/a> and various other artists.<\/p>\n You can see the full list of dates \u2013 and grab tickets \u2013 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n These were the biggest and most surprising things that happened in rock and metal during the year 2025, in case you forgot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Did Freese Say About His Firing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What Else Did Freese Tell Trunk?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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More About Josh Freese\u2019s Time in Foo Fighters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Other Josh Freese + Foo Fighters News<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Biggest Rock + Metal Stories of 2025<\/h2>\n