Foo Fighters welcome Josh Freese as studio drummer amid lineup changes
The rock group Foo Fighters expanded its lineup with a new studio drummer, Josh Freese, a seasoned session drummer with credits across major acts. Freese first appeared with the band during high profile performances in September 2022, delivering drum parts for two shows in Los Angeles and London. His diverse background includes work with Devo, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, and Weezer, and he has also shared the stage with Sting on multiple occasions. These performances marked a significant moment for the band as they continued to evolve following a period of upheaval and transition.
The announcement of Freese joining the core team follows the passing of the Foo Fighters’ longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in March of the previous year. Hawkins died while the band was on tour in South America, an event that sent shockwaves through fans and the music world. Post-mortem reports detailed the presence of opioids, antidepressants, and other psychotropic substances in Hawkins’s system. Hawkins left behind a wife and three children, and his absence created a void that the remaining members faced with vulnerability and resolve. This chapter highlighted the fragile balance bands navigate when a key member is lost and the group must reconcile grief with artistic momentum.
By December, the band signaled its intention to continue beyond Hawkins’s departure, reaffirming a commitment to create new music and perform for fans. In that period, Foo Fighters introduced new material that signaled a fresh era for the group. A track titled Under You emerged as part of the evolving discography while plans for the album But Here We Are took shape. The latter project was described as the band’s first full studio LP crafted without Hawkins, except for Dave Grohl’s earlier 1994 solo recording where he performed all parts. The release plan indicated a deliberate shift in sound and approach, reflecting the band’s resilience and the confidence to explore new collaborative dynamics with Freese and other contributors. This transition illustrates how a well-established act can honor its past while embracing change and renewal, demonstrating both continuity and evolution in their creative process (attribution: official statements and contemporaneous reporting).