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Dave Grohl has offered more detail on why the Foo Fighters parted ways with drummer Josh Freese in 2025, saying in a recent Apple Music interview that the change came after months of discussion about the band’s future direction.
Freese joined the Foo Fighters in 2022 after appearing at tribute shows honoring late drummer Taylor Hawkins and soon became their touring drummer. But following a break from touring in 2024, Grohl said the band spent months deciding what to do next before concluding they would continue with a different drummer.
Grohl said the decision was made collectively, with all members contacting Freese together to thank him and explain the shift. He stressed the move unfolded gradually rather than suddenly and reflected the group’s evolving creative path.
When the split was first announced in spring 2025, Freese revealed on Instagram that the band told him they had decided “to go in a different direction with their drummer,” adding that no specific explanation was provided. He wrote that he valued his two years with the group and supported whatever they felt was best for the band.
Later in 2025, longtime Nine Inch Nails drummer Ilan Rubin was confirmed as Freese’s successor, while Freese returned to work with Nine Inch Nails. Grohl also pointed to Freese’s own comments that the band’s music didn’t fully resonate with him — something the drummer previously said added pressure during his time stepping in after Hawkins’ death.
SOURCE: Loudwire