Josh Freese announced on social media Friday (May 16) that he’s been abruptly removed from the Foo Fighters‘ lineup after two years drumming for the band.
“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,” he wrote, punctuating the news with an old-fashioned sad-faced emoticon. “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 drummer of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band,” Freese continued, adding that he’s “not angry—just a bit shocked and disappointed” by the decision.
Still, his message ended on a cheerful note that showed the musician seems to be taking the cryptic dismissal in stride. “I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine,” he concluded before promising, “Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”
Before taking up the mantle left by Taylor Hawkins’ tragic and sudden passing in 2022, Freese spent his decades-long career drumming with everyone from The Zappas, The Vandals and Devo to Guns N’ Roses, Sting, Nine Inch Nails and Weezer.
He’s also worked extensively as a studio musician for the likes of The Offspring, Lostprophets and the Replacements, and contributed drums to hit albums like Avril Lavigne’s Let Go, Kelly Clarkson’s Thankful, Good Charlotte’s The Young and The Hopeless, Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream and Lana Del Rey’s Norman F–king Rockwell.
Meanwhile, the Foo Fighters booked their very first show of 2025 earlier this week by announcing they’ll be performing at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in October — just months after frontman Dave Grohl hit the stage at Coachella with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Representatives for the Foo Fighters declined Billboard’s request for comment. Read Freese’s full statement about his firing here.
