Latest news with #Freese
San Francisco Chronicle
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Why did Josh Freese leave Foo Fighters? It might have to do with too much whistling and too many poodles
Josh Freese, the veteran drummer who replaced Taylor Hawkins in Foo Fighters, has offered fans some theories on why he was abruptly fired from the band last week. In a playful Instagram post on Monday, May 19, Freese shared a list of 10 possible reasons for his ousting, offering a mix of self-deprecating humor and tongue-in-cheek commentary. Freese, who had joined the Foo Fighters in May 2023 following Hawkins' unexpected death, announced his departure on Friday, May 16, revealing that the band had informed him they were going 'in a different direction' with their drummer. He aded, 'No reason was given.' Even though Freese — who has performed with Devo, Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses — said he was 'shocked and disappointed' over the decision, he promised fans a breakdown of potential reasons for the firing. The list included a variety of absurd explanations, from his alleged obsession with whistling the Foo Fighters' hit 'My Hero' on tour for an entire week to his inability to name more than one Fugazi song. He also joked that his 'metronome-like precision' behind the drums was deemed "soulless" and that he demanded 20-minute cowbell sound baths before rehearsals. Other reasons included missing a studio session because of Mercury in retrograde, and because he 'refused to perform unless he was guaranteed a Ouija board and nunchucks after every show.' The most unexpected — and perhaps most revealing — reason Freese offered was that his 'poodle thing was getting to be a bit much.' Freese is known for his love of poodles, having several pets of the breed. Though his departure seemed abrupt, Freese expressed no ill will, thanking the band for the opportunity. Foo Fighters haven't played a show since Grohl revealed in September that he fathered a child outside his marriage. 'As most of you know, I've always worked freelance and bounced between bands, so I'm fine," Freese said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ousted Foo Fighters Drummer Shares '10 Possible Reasons He Was Booted'
may have lost his job as drummer for the Foo Fighters, but his sense of humor is still intact. On May 19, just three days after he announced that he had been dismissed from the band he joined in May 2023, replacing late drummer Taylor Hawkins, he delivered on his promise and posted on Instagram the 'Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters.' It's a list that would make proud. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Here's the list as Freese posted, along with some explanatory comments in parentheses. '10) Once whistled 'My Hero' for a week solid on tour. 9) Could only name one Fugazi song. (Fugazi was one of the leading bands from the Washington, D.C. punk scene that spawned Foo Fighters frontman ). 8) Two words: polyrhythms. 7) Metronome-like precision behind the kit deemed 'soulless.' 6) Demanded starting every rehearsal with 20 minute cowbell sound bath. 5) Never once tried growing a beard. 4) Didn't show up to studio because Mercury was in retrograde. 3) Promised Noodles he could be 4th guitarist. (Noodles is in the Offspring, a band that Freese once played drums in). 2) Refused to perform unless he was guaranteed a Ouija board and nunchucks after every show. 1) The whole poodle thing was getting to be a bit much.'While no reason for Freese's dismissal has been given aside from the band had decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer,' fans applauded his latest post. 'I think a beard would look great on you!!!🤘❤️🤘,' wrote one fan. 'I love this post. Funny, gracious, and self-depreciating with just the right amount of petty. 😂🥁,' another one added. 'Wait…weren't these the same 10 reasons that GOT you hired???' another fan joked. 'damn. my 'aggressive obsession with love boat' didn't even rate,' another one wrote. 'YOU ARE THE BEST!!! It was the poodles, for sure. 😂,' another posted.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Foo Fighters Have Fired Drummer Josh Freese
The Foo Fighters are down a member. On Friday, May 16, drummer Josh Freese took to social media to announce his departure from the band. Posting, in part, "The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided "to go in a different direction with their drummer." Freese was clearly caught off guard by the decision, adding that in 40 years as a drummer he'd never been let go from a band before and that he wasn't angry, "just a bit shocked and disappointed." Freese played drums for legendary bands like Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, and Devo before officially joining Foo Fighters to replace previous drummer Taylor Hawkins, who had been with the band since 1997. Hawkins passed away on March 25, 2022 while the band was on tour in Bogotá, Columbia at the age of 50. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Freese appeared as one of several guest drummers for the band during concerts held in tribute to Hawking and in May of 2023, the Foo Fighters introduced Freese as their full-time drummer during a streaming event called "Preparing Music For Concerts." There has been no comment from Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who was the one to invite Freese into the band two years ago. At the time, Freese recalled the conversation to Rick Beato, telling him Grohl called and said, "We had the drummer talk. And we want you to be the guy." Freese said he 'felt like someone kind of socked [him] in the stomach," adding, 'I didn't go, 'Wow! Yippee! This is so cool!' I didn't get excited like that. It was almost like I got the wind knocked out of me. And I was like, 'Oh my God'. The timing of Freese's departure is noteworthy. Earlier this week, the Foo Fighters announced their first show of 2025 on Oct. 4 at the Singapore Grand Prix. No word on who will replace Freese for that show.
NZ Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Foo Fighters replacement rumour swirls after drummer's shock firing
The new rumour emerged just days after Freese revealed news of his firing on social media. Freese shared in a statement: '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.' He added: '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.' He later went on to share a list of comical reasons as to why he may have been fired from the band, which ranged from 'Once whistled [the Foo Fighters' hit] My Hero for a week solid on tour,' 'Never even once tried growing a beard,' and that he could only name one song by Grohl's hometown heroes, Fugazi. Freese has been a drummer in the punk rock band the Vandals since 1989 and is also a member of the new wave band Devo, which he joined in 1996. The rocker is no stranger to iconic bands as he has also worked with Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle. He took over on the drums for The Foo Fighters one year after Hawkins died unexpectedly while on tour in Colombia at age 50. Hawkins was found dead in a hotel room at the Four Seasons Casa Medina in Bogota, with authorities discovering 'at least 10 different substances' in the room, according to a report that cited Fiscalia Colombia, the national lawyer general's office.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ex Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese lists 10 theories why he was fired: ‘Once whistled ‘My Hero' for a week solid'
It's times like these when you gotta laugh. Fired Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese is having some cheeky fun about getting booted from the band. After announcing that he was unceremoniously dumped from the group on Friday, the 52-year-old skinsman shared his 'Top 10 possible reasons Freese got booted from the Foos' on Instagram. Advertisement 5 Josh Freese has been drumming for Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters since 2023. Steve Galli/Shutterstock Counting down from 10 to 1, Freese started with 'Once whistled 'My Hero.' For a week solid on tour. Next up: 'Could only name one Fugazi song.' Advertisement No. 8? Simply 'Two words: polyrhythms.' Then he took a dig at his own drumming: 'Metronome-like precision behind the kit deemed 'soulless.'' Freese added a little percussion humor for No. 6: 'Demanded starting every rehearsal with a 20 minute cowbell sound bath.' 5 Josh Freese posted his 'Top 10 possible reasons Freese got booted from the Foos' on Instagram. joshfreese/Instagram Advertisement No 5 poked fun at the his lack of facial hair: 'Never even once tried growing a beard.' He followed that up with 'Didn't show up to studio because Mercury was in retrograde.' No. 3 was a reference to an axman from the Offspring: 'Promised Noodles he could be 4th guitarist.' 5 'I support whatever they feel is best for the band,' wrote Josh Freese on Instagram after getting booted from the Foos. joshfreese/Instagram Advertisement Then he blamed his tour-rider requests on No. 2: 'Refused to perform unless he was guaranteed a Ouija board and nunchucks after every show.' And the No 1 possible reason Freese got booted from the Foos: 'The whole poodle thing was getting to be a bit much.' (The musician has five of the dogs.) Freese, who joined the Foo Fighters in 2023 after the 2022 death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, announced his firing from Dave Grohl's band in an Instagram post. 5 Josh Freese found out that he was fired from Dave Grohl's Foo Fighters over the phone. joshfreese/Instagram '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,' Freese wrote. 'I support whatever they feel is best for the band,' he added. 'In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I've never been let go from a band,' Freese continued. '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.' 5 'I'm not angry — just a bit shocked and disappointed,' wrote Josh Freese after getting fired from Dave Grohl's band. joshfreese/Instagram Advertisement Then he promised: 'Stay tuned for my 'Top 10 reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters' list.' Freese has been a drummer in the punk rock band the Vandals since 1989 and is also a member of the new wave band Devo, which he joined in 1996. The rocker is no stranger to iconic bands as he has also worked with Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails and Weezer.
