Josh Freese Will Join The Foo Fighters As Their New Drummer

The rock group revealed Josh Freese, their studio drummer, as Taylor Hawkins’ replacement at a May 21 live stream event where they previewed their 11th studio album, “But Here We Are.”

Foo Fighters Return To Stage

Taylor Hawkins, the band’s original drummer, died unexpectedly in March 2022 due to a sudden heart attack he experienced while on tour. He passed away barely one month after turning 50.

The band took a break after the tragic incident to grieve for their cherished bandmate. However, they formally announced that they would keep making music in January of this year.

The Foo Fighters announced in April that they will release a new album, “But Here We Are,” on June 2, citing “a year of staggering losses, personal introspection, and bittersweet remembrances.”

At that time, there was much speculation over the drummer’s replacement, with several renowned players being connected to the role.

Matt Cameron and Rufus Taylor of Pearl Jam both dismissed rumors of them joining the band, while the Foo Fighters indulged in the speculation game in their live stream.

The group hinted that three legendary drummers, including Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, and Danny Carey of Tool, were up for the job before officially confirming Freese as their newest member.

The band officially thanked the drummer on twitter for joining their group.

Thanks for joining us. It will be streaming on @Veeps for 72 hours on demand if you missed it: https://t.co/hzz5G9mOKy

We'll see you all soon. pic.twitter.com/c7NATC6lzD

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 21, 2023

All About Freese

In his 55-year career, Freese has played drums for various bands, including Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, Offspring, Guns N’ Roses, and Weezer.

On more than 300 records, spanning the musical genres of rock, pop, and country, he has jammed with various performers. He has collaborated on recordings with well-known musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Lana Del Rey, and Sting. As per CNN, in 2022, he also performed with the Foo Fighters in a memorial concert for Hawkins in London, even using the late drummer’s own drum set.