23-05-2025
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.
