After the tragic loss of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters have introduced their new drummer, seasoned session musician Josh Freese.
Over the course of his three-decade career, Freese has amassed a lengthy and impressive list of credits. Drummer of Devo and Vandals since 1989, he is now 50 years old. In addition to the Offspring, Guns N’ Roses, Danny Elfman, Weezer, Sting, Paramore, Nine Inch Nails, and 100 Gecs, he has toured with all of these groups.
Sunday’s tongue-in-cheek live stream, dubbed Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts, delivered on the band’s promise of “a few surprises” and served as the medium for the announcement.
The broadcast began with the band teasing the name of their new drummer by inviting a number of celebrities to make cameo appearances throughout the recording session.
Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, arrived with much fanfare, only to be stopped in the parking lot and hear himself muttering about how he couldn’t get through. Tommy Lee of Motley Crue dropped up with a pizza delivery, while Danny Carey of Tool brought his dogs.
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The camera then panned to an irritated Freese, who had been waiting out of sight behind the drum set for the interruption. “Excuse me!” he yelled out. Please, may we play a song?”
Thanks for joining us. It will be streaming on @Veeps for 72 hours on demand if you missed it: https://t.co/hzz5G9mOKy
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 21, 2023
We'll see you all soon. pic.twitter.com/c7NATC6lzD
Here We Are’s Eight Songs Were Performed
The Foo Fighters played eight songs during the broadcast, some of which will appear on their upcoming eleventh studio album, But Here We Are.
While on tour in Colombia last year, Hawkins tragically passed away at the age of 50. The band stated in January that they will continue on without him.
They said, “Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were.” “And we know that without Taylor, we’re going to be a different band moving forward.”
This tour will be the band’s first live performance since September’s memorial concerts for Hawkins, at which Paul McCartney, Queen, and Mark Ronson, among others, paid tribute to the late drummer.
At those shows, Freese played drums with Hawkins and the rest of Foo Fighters.
He captioned the photo, “I was asked what drums I’d like to use,” from his Instagram account. Without hesitating, I insisted, “Taylor’s drums need to be up there, and I want to play on his exact set-up.”
A toxicology analysis revealed that Hawkins had evidence of 10 substances, including opiates, marijuana, and antidepressants, but no official cause of death has been given.
FAQs
Josh Freese is the new drummer for Foo Fighters. He is a Grammy-winning drummer who has played with a wide range of artists, including A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, and Weezer. He is known for his technical skill and versatility, and he has been praised by critics and peers alike.
Freese was introduced to Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl by a mutual friend and former drummer Taylor Hawkins. After Hawkins’ death in 2022, Grohl reached out to Freese to see if he would be interested in joining the band. Freese accepted the offer, and he made his live debut with the band on May 20, 2023.
Freese is a talented drummer with a wealth of experience. He is sure to bring a new level of energy and excitement to the band’s live shows. He is also a skilled songwriter, and he is likely to contribute to the band’s songwriting process in the future.
