Dave Grohl Explains Drummer Josh Freese’s Dismissal From Foo Fighters

This week, during the Foo Fighters’ media campaign for their new album Your Favorite Toy, singer Dave Grohl gave an interview addressing the mystery surrounding the firing of drummer Josh Freese. Back in May, Freese posted a brief statement on social media claiming he had been let go.

“The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided to go in a different direction with their drummer. Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off the stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band.”

Eventually, Ilan Rubin—best known for his work with Nine Inch Nails—took over the drum duties for the recording of Your Favorite Toy. Grohl recently explained what triggered the change.

“In those six or seven months, as a band, we talked about what to do next, a new direction, and thought, ‘Okay, let's call Josh and let him know that we are going to move on with a different drummer.’ It didn't happen overnight. We called, as a band—all of us called. It wasn't just me.”

Grohl continued:

“Basically, we called Josh and were like, ‘Hey man, that was awesome. That was such a blast, thank you so much, but we are going to move on and find another drummer.’ Since then, there's been a lot of talk about it, but I think Josh said it best when he said that he didn't feel our music really resonated with him, and that's really important.”

There was apparently more to the situation. After drummer Taylor Hawkins’ sudden death, the Foo Fighters took time off but never lost the desire to continue. They hired Josh Freese with the intention of using him primarily for live concerts. Most fans assumed he would become the band’s full-time drummer—recording albums and continuing to tour.

“We had Taylor Hawkins as our drummer for 25 years and, beyond being an amazing drummer, he was this incredible spirit. He was this incredible human being and he was our brother. He was our best friend. After Taylor was really complicated, not just for us, but for any drummer that was going to come in to, you know, fill his shoes… We talk about him every f****** day. In everything we do, we want to have that energy. We want to have that energy for Taylor.”

It seems Grohl didn’t feel the same social connection with Freese that he had with Hawkins. If that’s the case, it may signal a challenging future for the band, as Hawkins was a one‑of‑a‑kind personality who cannot be easily replaced. His charisma was strong enough that the Foo Fighters often had him step out front to sing a cover song during concerts—a moment fans always cherished.

Whether Ilan Rubin will bring both the talent and personality to enhance the Foo Fighters’ experience remains to be seen. As for Josh Freese, who has recently been celebrated with several awards, his extensive résumé ensures he will always find work