Foo Fighters officially revealed during their “Preparing Music for Concerts” livestream Sunday that renowned drummer Josh Freese will join the band full-time for their summer tour, filling the vacancy left by the late Taylor Hawkins.
Dave Grohl and company promised a “few surprises” during the livestream, and they delivered as Freese was formally introduced in a humorous clip where Foo Fighters are solicited by potential A-list drummers — like Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and Tool’s Danny Carey — before it was ultimately revealed that the seat behind the kit belonged to Freese.
The addition of Freese — an in-demand session and live drummer who has had lengthy tenures with everyone from Guns N’ Roses and Nine Inch Nails to Paramore and Devo — was long-anticipated by fans, especially after Freese, without explanation, canceled his summer shows backing the Offspring and Danny Elfman.
Freese was also among the all-star drummers to perform with Foo Fighters during their Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts in 2022, leading to speculation that he was among the frontrunners to replace Hawkins full-time.
In addition to welcoming Freese to their lineup, Foo Fighters’ free “Preparing Music for Concerts” livestream — recorded at the band’s 606 Studios — also introduced fans to new music from the band’s upcoming LP But Here We Are, which arrives June 2 and represents “the first chapter of the band’s new life.”
Foo Fighters’ summer tour — spanning North America and Europe — kicks off May 24 in Gilford, New Hampshire and includes stops at festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Ohana, Riot Fest and Austin City Limits.
From Rolling Stone US
