With three guitarists, two Nirvana alums, and one Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, things were looking great for the Foo Fighters. But they didn’t always have the brightest of moments. For one, the unexpected passing of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins during their 2022 tour took a hit on the band. Still, the band didn’t take long to bring light to their grief. Even amid heartbreak, sadness, and confusion, the Foo Fighters ensured that Hawkins’ life was widely celebrated through the multi-city Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert, joined by rock royalty Brian May, Paul McCartney, and more.
But these days, the Foo Fighters haven’t been themselves. For a while, there was an optimistic certainty regarding the band’s future post-Hawkins death. In 2023, the band recruited acclaimed sessions drummer Josh Freese to fill in the musical void. Shortly after, they released their eleventh studio album But Here We Are in June. But the events that would happen in the next few months are things that the Foo Fighters fan base would not have expected. Even more crucially, these future incidents would not only change the course of the band’s path but also the public’s perception of the Foo Fighters.
Frontman Dave Grohl Had a Newborn Baby Outside of His Marriage
Although the Foo Fighters were inactive for much of the late 2024 – early 2025 period, Grohl didn’t fall off the public radar for far too long. On January 30, Grohl reunited with original Nirvana members Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear (who’s also his fellow Foo colleague) for a FireAid benefit concert on January 30. Raising funds for victims of the LA-area wildfires, the trio is joined by St. Vincent, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, and Grohl’s daughter Violet Grohl on stage. The grunge unit performed on stage once again for SNL50: The Homecoming Concert on February 22, with Post Malone churning out “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Most recently, Grohl played alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel for an orchestra rendition of his greatest hits, including “Everlong.”
Drummer Josh Freese Was Reportedly “Fired” From the Foo Fighters
The hard-hitting nail in the coffin is the recent alleged firing of Freese, the drummer who filled in Hawkins’ shoes from his passing in 2023. From Freese’s visibly pissed social media posts, it sounds like their parting was one-sided. The now ex-drummer also took the time to upload “10 possible reasons” why he got booted from the band (a jab based on a “10 things” segment the band once did on the Late Show with David Letterman). With an obviously sarcastic, but hilarious tone, some reasons include, “Once whistled ‘My Hero’ for a week solid on tour,’” and “Didn’t show up to studio because Mercury was in retrograde.”
This isn’t the first time the Foo Fighters switched drummers. In 1995, Grohl recruited drummer William Goldsmith from the band Sunny Day Real Estate. However, it was reported that Grohl wasn’t too pleased with Goldsmith’s drum parts for the 1997 album The Colour and the Shape. After Goldsmith left, Hawkins, who was on tour with Alanis Morrissette at the time, joined the Foo Fighters in March 1997. Approximately more than a year after Hawkin’s death, the Foo Fighters announced in May 2023 that Freese would be drumming for the band. Originally of the Vandals since 1989, Freese is essentially the freelance drummer to the stars. Primarily working as a sessions player, he’s filled in for bands such as Guns N’ Roses, Weezer, and Nine Inch Nails. With a star-studded CV, Freese isn’t likely going to have a hard time in the job market.
The Foo Fighters Return to the Stage With a Tour This Fall
However, Freese’s departure doesn’t mean the end of all things Foo Fighters. Approximately three days after news of his firing, the Foo Fighter announced that they’d be back on the road in October 2025. Interestingly enough, instead of a traditional North American tour, they’ll be kicking things off with a four-stop Asia tour — including one show at the prestigious Singapore Grand Prix. It’s their first time playing in Asia since 2017, and the move appears to be a strategic effort to reconnect with loyal fans in under-toured regions, especially in light of recent controversies back home.
Should the band not run into further issues (knock on wood, a canceled tour), it’s clear that the group isn’t planning to put a complete halt to their musical activities any time soon. However, at the time of writing, the Foo Fighters have yet to announce who their replacement drummer is. One thing’s for sure: as talented of a musician as Grohl is, he can’t possibly (or physically) sing, play guitar, and drum, all at the same time. If he could though, that would be impressively cool.
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