Cliff Notes – Foo Fighters star reveals he’s been ‘let go’ from band without reason
- Josh Freese announced his departure from the Foo Fighters, stating he was let go without explanation, just two years after joining the band following Taylor Hawkins’ death.
- Freese expressed shock and disappointment at the decision, noting he has never been dismissed from a band in his 40-year career as a drummer.
- The Foo Fighters have not publicly commented on Freese’s claims, and the band is reportedly on indefinite hiatus amid personal issues within the group.
Foo Fighters star reveals he’s been ‘let go’ from band without reason
Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese has left the band (Picture: Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese has claimed the rock band has let him go without any explanation.
Freese, 52, joined the iconic group in 2023, following the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022.
He was previously a drummer for Guns N’ Roses and has worked with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Weezer, Sting, The Offspring, and many more.
But his time with the Everlong rockers has come to an end, with Freese taking to social media to announce his departure from the band, which is made up of Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee.
‘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,’ he wrote on Instagram.
‘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.’
Freese (second left) claimed the band is set to go ‘in a different direction’ and he had been let go (Picture: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Swift River Productions)
He said ‘no reason had been given’ for his sudden sacking (Picture: Gary Miller/Getty Images)
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He continued: ‘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.’
The band has not yet addressed Freese’s claims.
Sunny Day Real Estate’s William Goldsmith was the drummer for Foo Fighters when they formed in 1995, leaving the group two years later.
He was replaced by Hawkins until his death in 2022 from a drug overdose.
Hawkins was 50 years old when he died on March 25, 2022, in Bogotá, Colombia, where the Foo Fighters were set to perform later that evening.
Freese joined the band in 2023 following the death of Taylor Hawkins a year prior (Picture: Ashley Beliveau/Getty Images)
The news comes just months after vocalist Dave Grohl revealed he had fathered a child outside of his marriage (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Foo Fighters)
Freese performed for the first time with the band in tribute concerts for Hawkins before officially joining the band in 2023.
His appointment was revealed during a livestream featuring cameos from other famous drummers, including Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Tommy Lee of Mötley Crue.
His departure comes months after it was revealed Grohl, 56, was expecting a baby with another woman, despite being married to Jordyn Blum for 21 years.
The woman’s identity was then revealed as Jennifer Young, who said she gave birth on August 1 and put Grohl’s name on the baby’s birth certificate.
Just weeks after news of Grohl’s infidelity became public knowledge, both he and his wife were spotted without wedding rings, and a divorce attorney was hired.
However, it was later reported that they were keen to give things another go, with divorce lawyers being called off by the couple.
Foo Fighters are now said to be on indefinite hiatus, with a source telling The Sun: ‘Being on the road isn’t the best thing for any of them at the moment.’
Metro has contacted representatives for Foo Fighters for comment.