Josh Freese has confirmed he’s no longer part of Foo Fighters, and fans and fellow stars alike are stunned.
The 52-year-old drummer, who joined the band in May 2023 following the tragic death of Taylor Hawkins, shared the unexpected news on Instagram, saying he was “shocked and disappointed” to be told the band is “going in a different direction with their drummer.”
No official reason was given for the decision. Freese, a veteran drummer with a four-decade-long career, stated, “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 also made it clear he holds no bitterness and supports whatever Foo Fighters believe is best.
“I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage,” Freese wrote. “I’m fine. Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”
The support from the music and entertainment world has been swift and loud. Primus drummer John Hoffman commented, “Bro …well, their ‘different direction’ = the wrong direction. You’re the king.”
Flavor Flav added a pep talk in his signature style: “YOOOO my GEE keep ya head and ya sticks up.”
Jillian Dempsey, wife of actor Patrick Dempsey, joked, “Want me to ‘backstage SNL’ his a**?!” while Limp Bizkit’s Wes Borland was more blunt, posting: “Wow. Wtf? Gross. I’m shook.”
Actress Wendi McLendon-Covey expressed both confusion and support, writing, “wtf?????? But hey, you’ll always be fine…. And you might actually be dodging a bullet. Love to you and your family!”
Legendary Police drummer Stewart Copeland also chimed in with an optimistic take: “This is lucky for the five other bands that you play with.” Comedian Tim Heidecker didn’t hold back either: “Upside is you won’t have to hear any of those horrible songs ever again!” Wolfgang Van Halen reacted with a meme that said it all, confusion and disbelief.
Freese had been a solid addition to the Foo Fighters lineup, which includes Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee. His arrival came just over a year after Taylor Hawkins’ sudden passing in Bogotá, Colombia, in March 2022.
The drumming world has long respected Freese for his versatility, having played with Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Sting, and many more. He’s used to working across projects, and his freelance mindset seems to have prepared him for this curveball.
For now, Freese is taking the news in stride, and with some humor. As fans and fellow artists rally behind him, one thing is clear: he won’t be on the sidelines for long.
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