Foo Fighters fire Josh Freese

2025-05-16 by Raul Stanciu STAFF | 63 Comments
Josh Freese announced on his social media accounts that Foo Fighters decided to part ways with him. An odd move given his expertise and prowess as a drummer. He joined them in 2023, before the release of But Here We Are. No official information was provided by the band themselves as of yet. A few days ago, however, it was revealed they will play at the Singapore Grand Prix on October 4.

Read Freese's statement below:

"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. : ( 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 drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry—just a bit shocked and disappointed. 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."



Tagged: Foo Fighters

Comments:Add a Comment 
TheNewWhack
May 16th 2025
1669 Comments


He must have cheated on them with another band.

Viraemias
May 16th 2025
601 Comments


It's honestly pathetic when bands fire members without even having the decency to speak to them directly, let alone face to face. Leaving someone in the dark about why they were let go is spineless behavior. It's the kind of immature drama you would expect from a metalcore band full of 20 year olds, not from seasoned veterans. When major bands display this POS behavior, it becomes nearly impossible to respect them.

Snake.
May 16th 2025
25582 Comments


william goldsmith sends his regards

Flugmorph
May 16th 2025
35324 Comments


love this band

GhostShelter
May 16th 2025
1433 Comments


Taylor Hawkins son coming in hot.

vult
May 16th 2025
3295 Comments


dave grohl's aura has taken such a major hit the last two years lmao

sucks for this guy but he seems like he's in decent spirits about the future. shitty way to be dropped from a supermega band

Tunaboy45
May 16th 2025
18897 Comments


He was a bit too talented for the Foo Fighters. Probably to be replaced with Grohl's daughter.

Asdfp277
May 16th 2025
25383 Comments


"Leaving someone in the dark about why they were let go is spineless behavior. It's the kind of immature drama you would expect from a metalcore band full of 20 year olds, not from seasoned veterans."

You would think that, but at least outside of music it seems pretty common. Some people just never develop that professional maturity and respect, oh well

Sucks for the guy, being let go for the first time must be such a weird & awful experience, especially in this manner. Hope he does well in the future!

Flashmobba
May 16th 2025
3132 Comments


this is fucked up dude, especially for someone like Freese, dude is a total legend in the game

tf is going on with grohl

keaton_86
May 16th 2025
1162 Comments


"He was a bit too talented for the Foo Fighters."

This.

nipplehair
May 16th 2025
112 Comments


As if FF weren't in enough hot water already..

Asdfp277
May 16th 2025
25383 Comments


maybe they're going in a new direction: drumless music

hel9000
May 16th 2025
1687 Comments


"tf is going on with grohl”

Always felt like the whole “nicest guy in rock” image was incredibly forced

DatsNotDaMetulz
May 16th 2025
4480 Comments


My only theory regarding this is that Foo Fighters wanna come back with an intense touring schedule in 2026, but Freese rejoining A Perfect Circle means they no longer think he can commit to Foo Fighters to the degree they need him to. The other guys in the band have side projects but none of them tour to the extent of APC.

bigguytoo9
May 16th 2025
1468 Comments


Saw him play with NIN once and it was great. Fuck Dave.

Asdfp277
May 16th 2025
25383 Comments


"My only theory regarding this is that Foo Fighters wanna come back with an intense touring schedule in 2026, but Freese rejoining A Perfect Circle means they no longer think he can commit to Foo Fighters to the degree they need him to. The other guys in the band have side projects but none of them tour to the extent of APC."

that makes perfect sense actually, but why couldn't they talk about it with him?

deathschool
May 16th 2025
29387 Comments


Whomst?

CugnoBrasso
May 16th 2025
3479 Comments


Dave Grohl? More like DAVE LOHL

deathschool
May 16th 2025
29387 Comments


I just witnessed a gruesome murder on Sputnikmusic

EoinCofa
May 16th 2025
977 Comments


Josh is such a good dude, most don’t like his “I don’t give a fuck” attitude. Yes, Josh was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but I don’t think he has ever made an excuse for it. A great dude and has played on more tracks than 99%.

bloc
May 16th 2025
70855 Comments


I like the frankness of his statement, makes me respect him even more tbh

Not sure what "direction" that FF is referring to as they've been moving in the same direction since they started.

Butkuiss
May 16th 2025
8713 Comments


Not sure the fooies have a direction so much as a static point

bellovddd
May 16th 2025
7582 Comments


lol foo fighters are absolute trash now. who cares

Ocean of Noise
May 16th 2025
11338 Comments


Honestly, I saw the Foo Fighters a while back and my impression was that Dave is a weird, unhinged asshole. One of the worst concerts I've ever seen. Left halfway through.

veninblazer
May 16th 2025
20036 Comments


What is happening with Foo Fighters anymore

Asdfp277
May 16th 2025
25383 Comments


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecpUBHdWmtk

Spec
May 17th 2025
41141 Comments


where will they find another drummer who can handle radio rock??

Asdfp277
May 17th 2025
25383 Comments


maybe that was the issue -- his talent would be wasted if he stayed. Did him a favor, really

hel9000
May 17th 2025
1687 Comments


"What is happening with Foo Fighters anymore"

They recently(?) added a full time keyboard player which made them worse somehow.

AlexanderScotch
May 17th 2025
32 Comments


FF was lucky to get someone of Freese's talent

Koris
Staff Reviewer
May 17th 2025
22583 Comments


Nice alliteration in that title

Pikazilla
May 17th 2025
32315 Comments


poo fighters

twlight
May 17th 2025
10021 Comments


At least have the balls to tell him why he’s out. Fucking lame behavior from the band

pengui
May 17th 2025
182 Comments


What's the point in having such a good drummer in a soft rock band anyway? It's a complete waste.

onionbubs
May 17th 2025
23752 Comments


damn that sucks their last album was like the only foo album i liked front to back rip

RVAHC13
May 17th 2025
1246 Comments


Dave is notoriously anal retentive about drum parts, he did the same thing with William Goldsmith when they were recording the first two albums

StrizzMatik
May 17th 2025
4215 Comments


Firing a pro like Freese over phone without any reason given is pretty cold, especially when they went out of their way to hype him up as Taylor's replacement a few years back. Shit like this is why I chuckle when anyone buys into Grohl's "aw shucks I'm just a normal guy who hangs out with rock royalty everyday" image

RVAHC13
May 17th 2025
1246 Comments


I never bought Dave Grohl as a nice guy, listen to old interviews when he was in Nirvana he was always trashing other bands for sounding lame. Okay king of sterile radio rock go ahead and save rock n roll all by yourself. I don’t dislike his music but he is an innovator of nothing.

BigBlob
May 17th 2025
5913 Comments


band sucks regardless

Ebola
May 18th 2025
4650 Comments


[2]

GhostShelter
May 19th 2025
1433 Comments


“damn that sucks their last album was like the only foo album i liked front to back rip”

And not wasting light?

Butkuiss
May 19th 2025
8713 Comments


Wait fuck how didn’t I think of this earlier.

Foo Fighters? More like Freese Firers.

pennyroyal22
May 19th 2025
133 Comments


I think he was really just a hired gun from the get-go. 'Going a different direction' can mean any number of things, some of which Josh Freese might have no control over -- stylistic differences, personality, maybe he is too expensive (he is one of the most in-demand session drummers in the business), etc.

I don't think Grohl is a paragon by any stretch but neither does this make him some raging asshole.

someguest
May 19th 2025
30494 Comments


Doo Flingers

RVAHC13
May 19th 2025
1246 Comments


@pennyroyal22

That’s the smart way to look at the situation. I certainly don’t believe Dave Grohl goes around motherf’n his bandmates like Axl Rose or something. I just never took him as a squeaky clean rock bro like either the media or the fans built him up to be. I’m punching up obviously.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
May 19th 2025
32992 Comments


So Josh has been freed from Foo Fighters, good for him. I guess Grohl couldn't stomach that Freese was the better drummer in the room.


Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
May 19th 2025
32992 Comments


Joking though, pretty sure it's about tour schedule conflicts like someone posted above. Still very uncool to be fired on the phone.

LeDemonLemon
May 20th 2025
53 Comments


New drummer gonna be Chris Fehn you heard it here first.

keaton_86
May 20th 2025
1162 Comments


I'm puttig my money on dave elitch to fill in for some shows, then whom knowms after that?

Asdfp277
May 20th 2025
25383 Comments


nyango star

kzy
May 20th 2025
133 Comments


woo fighters.

tigersbrokefree
May 20th 2025
403 Comments


Sure he was a hired gun, but have the balls to say it to the guy's face.

deathschool
May 20th 2025
29387 Comments


Dave's scared if he confronts someone they'll just OD. (I'm sorry. That hurt to type, but I'm posting it anyway)

Aerisavion
May 20th 2025
3623 Comments


Band should have called it a day with 'But Here We Are' as their final album.

The endless personal disputes and embarrassment following Grohl's affair (his third one, by the way) is just getting sad.

MrxSelfxDestruct
May 20th 2025
680 Comments


BOO Fighters (Born of Osiris)

Grungil
May 21st 2025
651 Comments


Good for him.

IsisScript80
May 21st 2025
1676 Comments


"I never bought Dave Grohl as a nice guy"

Well, his "nicest guy in rock" brand has now very publicly taken several hits these past few years.

deathschool
May 21st 2025
29387 Comments


Not really sure what he did to earn the title in the first place lol. Even when I was a dumb teenage FF fan, I was never thinking “wow, Dave sure is a lot nicer than all of the other singers I listen to”.

IsisScript80
May 21st 2025
1676 Comments


^ Off the top of my head: General vibe. Funny music videos (often featuringJack Black). Seemingly very friendly. Initially played the post-Kurt life very well, contrary to Courtney Love.

deathschool
May 21st 2025
29387 Comments


Yeah, I guess that’s fair. I don’t necessarily equate being funny to being nice, but a lot of people do conflate those characteristics.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
May 22nd 2025
11282 Comments


Hahaha

https://blabbermouth.net/news/josh-freese-shares-list-of-top-10-possible-reasons-he-got-booted-from-the-foo-fighters

bloc
May 22nd 2025
70855 Comments


I also remember Grohl announcing that he fathered a child out of wedlock last year or something like it was some noble shit he was doing

hel9000
May 22nd 2025
1687 Comments


"Funny music videos (often featuringJack Black)" Put him in jail.



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