The Foo Fighters dropped a bombshell this week, abruptly parting ways with drummer Josh Freese just two years after he stepped in to replace the late Taylor Hawkins. Freese, a seasoned pro who’s played with everyone from Guns N’ Roses to Devo, announced the news on Instagram, saying the band called him Monday night to say they’re “going in a different direction” with their drummer. No reason was given, leaving Freese “shocked and disappointed” and fans reeling over what’s next for the rock giants.
Freese joined the Foo Fighters in May 2023, a little over a year after Hawkins’ sudden death in March 2022 at age 50 during a tour in Colombia. Hawkins, who’d been with the band since 1997, was a beloved figure, and his passing hit hard. The band held star-studded tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles that September, where Freese played Hawkins’ drums, a nod to his friend from their Orange County roots. “Taylor was tired of hearing about ‘that other young guy from OC’ when he was a teen,” Freese joked on Instagram then, showing their bond. His official debut came in a cheeky livestream, Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts, with cameos from drummers like Chad Smith and Tommy Lee, before Freese took the kit for “All My Life.”
The news of Freese’s exit blindsided many. “In my 40 years of drumming, I’ve never been let go from a band,” Freese wrote, adding a sad face emoji but keeping it classy: “I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best.” He teased a “Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted” list, showing his humor despite the sting. Fans flooded social media with reactions, some furious at the band’s vagueness—@BarkJack_ posted, “Could have told you Josh—Dave Grohl isn’t the nicest guy”—while others, like @all90saltrock, wished him well, noting his freelance roots mean he’ll land on his feet.
Speculation is rife about why Freese was cut loose. The Foo Fighters have been quiet since canceling their Soundside Music Festival gig in September 2024, days after Dave Grohl’s public admission of fathering a child outside his marriage. That scandal, plus a year of canceled shows, had fans wondering about the band’s future. Some on social media, like @loadedradio, pointed to a lack of chemistry, noting Freese seemed “just there” compared to Hawkins’ spark. Others, on forums like ResetEra, suggested Grohl’s perfectionism—described in a 2022 Rolling Stone piece as intense pressure on Hawkins—might’ve clashed with Freese’s style. A few even floated Hawkins’ son, Oliver, now 18, as a potential replacement, though he’s young for a global tour.
Freese’s tenure wasn’t without highlights. He played on the band’s 2023 album But Here We Are, their first without Hawkins, which hit No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and earned three Grammy nominations. He also powered their festival and tour dates, including Bonnaroo and a July 2024 Fenway Park show. But whispers of trouble surfaced earlier this year, with Freese confirming in March he was still with the band amid rumors. His final gig was a private House of Blues Anaheim show in September 2024, per Pitchfork.
The timing raises eyebrows. The Foo Fighters are slated to play the Singapore Grand Prix on October 4, their first show since the hiatus, and no new drummer has been named. A band rep confirmed Freese’s departure to the Los Angeles Times but stayed mum on details. This isn’t the first shake-up for the Foo Fighters, who cycled through drummers like William Goldsmith before Hawkins’ 25-year run. Still, Freese’s pedigree—stints with Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, and The Vandals, plus session work for Lana Del Rey and Kelly Clarkson—made him seem like a perfect fit.
The move has sparked debate about the band’s direction. Some fans on social media, like @ClassicRockMag, see it as a business decision, with one ResetEra user suggesting a younger, cheaper drummer could save costs for a “nostalgia act.” Others defend Freese’s chops, with @resetera calling him “the GOAT” for his work with Nine Inch Nails. Critics point to Grohl’s control-freak rep, citing Hawkins’ own words about grueling schedules. “Dave’s a bad motherfucker, but that pressure’s real,” Freese once told Ultimate Guitar, praising Grohl’s drumming.
For now, the Foo Fighters are keeping quiet, leaving fans to wonder who’ll take the kit and whether the band can recapture its spark. Freese, ever the pro, says he’s fine, with a career that’s weathered bigger curveballs. As the Singapore gig looms, all eyes are on Grohl and company to see if this “different direction” keeps the Foo Fighters’ legacy rocking—or risks it fading out.
