Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese revealed he was "let go" from the band, nearly two years after taking over Taylor Hawkins' position.
Yes, it's quite a surprising turn of events! Josh Freese announced on May 16 that he was fired from the Foo Fighters after nearly two years with the band. He shared that the band decided to "go in a different direction" with their drummer but did not provide a reason for the decision.
Freese, who has played with legendary bands like Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, and Devo, expressed that while he wasn’t angry, he was "shocked and disappointed" since this was the first time in his 40-year career that he had been let go from a band. Despite the unexpected news, he remains positive and even teased a humorous "Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters" list.
The Foo Fighters have yet to release an official statement regarding his departure.
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"The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer,'" Freese wrote on his Instagram. "No reason was given." The band currently consists of Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee.
Regardless, he continued, “I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band."
For the first time in his career, Freese thought back on the shocking incident.
"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," he said. "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.”
During a livestream event in May 2023 to promote their 11th studio album, But Here We Are, the rock band revealed Freese, who has previously played drums for Devo, Guns N' Roses, and other artists, as Hawkins' replacement.
Which probably was not a big surprise. After all, Freese joined the trio for its two 2022 Hawkins memorial shows in London and Los Angeles. Hawkins passed away in Colombia earlier that year at the age of 50. The drummer was under the influence of ten different kinds of drugs at the time.
The band wrote in December 2022 that "without Taylor, we would never have become the band that we were, and without Taylor, we know that we are going to be a different band going forward."
The message went on to say, "We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you." "And we know that he will be there in spirit with all of us every night when we meet you again, which we will shortly."
