Josh Freese Fired by Foo Fighters: Drummer Breaks His Silence

I follow the behind-the-scenes world of the U.S. rock scene very closely, and when a drummer of Josh Freese's caliber gets let go by one of the biggest bands on the planet without the slightest explanation, it naturally gets our attention. The story, which has been simmering since May 2025, has just taken a new turn with an extensive interview in Modern Drummer. The legendary drummer—40 years in the business, with collaborations including Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Guns N’ Roses, and Weezer—looks back on his departure with a mix of class, mystery, and a hint of bitterness. Let's break it down.

A firing out of nowhere

Back to May 2025. Josh Freese announced on Instagram that the Foo Fighters had called him to say they wanted to "go in a different direction with their drummer." Period. No reason given. In forty years of working, it was the first time he had been fired from a band.

The timing was surprising, to say the least. Freese had joined the Foo Fighters in 2023 under extremely sensitive circumstances: replacing the late Taylor Hawkins, who died suddenly in March 2022. A thankless role, enormous pressure, and yet he delivered across the board through two years of touring and recording.

Modern Drummer: Freese speaks out (at last)

Nine months after the fact, Josh Freese graced the cover of Modern Drummer in February 2026. While he remains cautious, his words carry weight. He explains that everything he says about the Foo Fighters is systematically taken out of context and blown out of proportion by the media. Hence his restraint.

He nevertheless admits to having "a few little theories" about the reasons behind his firing, though he cannot share them for now. He promises to discuss them in greater detail when the time is right. In the meantime, here's what we can take away from his statements:

• He loved playing with the band and considers Dave Grohl above all a drummer he deeply respects.
• He describes the atmosphere within the Foo Fighters as generous and kind... until the day it all stopped.
• On the day he was fired, he was hanging out with members of A Perfect Circle and Primus on a day off—he was not expecting it at all.
• Despite everything, he insists that no one should feel sorry for him.

In an earlier interview with the New York Times in August 2025, Freese had said that Foo Fighters' music was not necessarily what excited him most, and that the problem may have had more to do with the band's management. Comments that had already generated plenty of discussion.

Rock's wildest swap

The story doesn't end there. A few weeks after Freese's departure, the Foo Fighters announced the arrival of Ilan Rubin, drummer for Nine Inch Nails since 2009. And shortly afterward, Freese returned to... Nine Inch Nails, the band he had left in 2008.

A completely unprecedented switch in rock history. As Trent Reznor (NIN's frontman) told the press, Rubin's departure caught him by surprise, but calling Freese was the obvious choice. The result: two major bands literally trading drummers, with each one landing on their feet.

For the record, Rubin had already replaced Freese in NIN in 2009. Seventeen years later, the circle is complete—in both directions.

What now? What's next for everyone

As for Freese, life goes on at full speed (no pun intended). He is currently touring North America with Nine Inch Nails on the Peel It Back Tour, while juggling studio sessions and projects with A Perfect Circle. He has long proven that his schedule doesn't have any empty space.

For the Foo Fighters, the Ilan Rubin era is underway. The band already played its first shows with him in September 2025 and is preparing a massive 2026 tour: the Take Cover Tour. On the schedule: stadiums across Europe (including Paris La Défense Arena on June 19, 2026) and North America, with Queens of the Stone Age as the opening act. All the ingredients for memorable nights.

A mystery that will keep people talking

Josh Freese may project an outward calm, but the circumstances surrounding his firing remain completely unclear. No official statement from the Foo Fighters, theories the drummer is keeping to himself, and one sentence that sums it all up: they were "good to him... until they weren't anymore." The story is clearly not over. When Freese finally decides to reveal everything, it could shake things up. In the meantime, rock keeps rolling—and these two are far from done making stages around the world shake.

Sources

• Louder Sound – Josh Freese on his enforced "mystery" exit from Foo Fighters
• Blabbermouth – Josh Freese Reflects On His Time With Foo Fighters
• NME – Josh Freese says he still doesn’t know why he was fired from Foo Fighters
• Rolling Stone – Foo Fighters Debut New Drummer Ilan Rubin at Surprise Show
• Ultimate Classic Rock – Josh Freese Opens Up About Foo Fighters Firing