Just months after firing Josh Freese from the band, Foo Fighters have enlisted drummer Ilan Rubin to take his spot.
A source confirmed to Variety that Rubin, who has been a touring member of Nine Inch Nails since 2009, will step in for Freese as the band’s drummer, as first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. It’s unclear if his role will be permanent or just for touring, as the band has shows starting in October in Jakarta, Singapore, and Mexico City. Neither Foo Fighters nor Ilan Rubin have commented on the change.
In an unusual twist, Freese will be the touring drummer for Nine Inch Nails on their upcoming ‘Peel It Back’ tour. Freese was Nine Inch Nails’ drummer from 2005 to 2008. Rubin was originally expected to join that tour but reportedly declined, telling Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor he had taken a job elsewhere.
Rubin has played with Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves, and Paramore. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 as the youngest member ever, for his work with Nine Inch Nails.
Freese is a seasoned drummer who has worked with bands like Devo, A Perfect Circle, and Guns N’ Roses. In May, he announced on social media that he had been fired from Foo Fighters after filling in for the late Taylor Hawkins.
Freese wrote, “I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band,” he wrote. “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.”
He later posted a humorous list of “Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters,” including “once whistled [the Foo Fighters’ hit] ‘My Hero’ for a week solid on tour” and “never even once tried growing a beard.”
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