Josh Freese admits Foo Fighters firing remains “a mystery” to him
Drummer Josh Freese has discussed his exit from the Foo Fighters and admitted it’s still a “mystery” to him.
Freese served in Foo Fighters from 2023, following Taylor Hawkins’ death, until his dismissal in 2025. He has since toured with Nine Inch Nails and Weezer after being relieved of his duties in the rock juggernauts.
Last year, Freese broke his silence on his exit, explaining that it “wasn’t music that I really resonated with” and that he felt “like I had to be firing on all cylinders all the time” during his tenure.
As his previous comments travelled far and wide, Freese was reluctant to go into too many details during a new interview with Modern Drummer (via Consequence), claiming that “everything I say gets taken out of context, reposted, and blown out of proportion”.
However, the drummer did note, “I have a couple small theories, but I can’t really go into them right now. I did really enjoy the two years I spent with those guys however, and they were good to me… until they weren’t.”
On his time with the band, Freese added, “I liked playing with them. And I loved having Dave [Grohl] as a bandleader. I truly respect him so much as a drummer first and foremost.” Freese also said that “it really was cool being in a band where the leader is a phenomenal drummer that you respect”.
He continued, “I enjoyed being around those guys, they were generous and good to me… and that’s what makes the whole thing even more of a mystery.”
Freese then said that he has “a pretty good read on people”, which is why it took him by surprise to such a degree, adding, “One day it was nothing but laughs, we’re on stage and Dave’s looking at me every night like, ‘You’re killing it dude!!!’ And then it was just… over.”
Foo Fighters are currently gearing their comeback ahead of their upcoming stadium tour in the UK, Europe and North America this summer.
In October, they returned with the new single, ‘Asking For a Friend‘, and this week, they have been teasing another track, as well as launching a new website, which suggests an album announcement is pending.
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