Foo Fighters reveal new drummer Josh Freese one year on from Taylor Hawkins’ death

The Foo Fighters have announced their new drummer in a global livestream event shared on streaming service Veeps.

The Foo Fighters have announced their new drummer in a global livestream event shared on streaming service Veeps.

In the video posted on May 21, the American rock band revealed veteran musician and long-time friend Josh Freese will be joining the line-up alongside Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee.

Freese joins the band 14 months after original drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while on tour in March 2022.

He died just one month after his 50th birthday.

Josh Freese joins the Foo Fighters in livestream announcement. Picture: Veeps

Josh Freese joins the band 14 months after Taylor Hawkins’ death. Picture: Veeps

Following his death, the band took a break to mourn their beloved bandmate. However, in January this year, they confirmed they would continue make music.

Speculation was then rife as to who would replace Hawkins on the drums, with many famous sticksmen linked to the gig,

Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron and Rufus Taylor both denied rumours they would join the group, with the Foo Fighters playing on this speculation circus in their livestream.

The Foo Fighters at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Picture: AFP

Before announcing Freese as its new member, Grohl and the band teased three iconic drummers were up for the gig: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, and Tool’s Danny Carey.

But it was all for laughs before Freese then interrupts the skit.

“Um, excuse me?” he said as the Foo Fighters spot him sitting behind a drum kit. “Can we play a song or something?!”

Taylor Hawkins (left) died at age 50 in March 2022 while the band were on tour. Picture: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS

With Freese on the sticks, the band then played songs such as Under You and Nothing At All from their new album, But Here We Are, which drops June 2.

Freese has previously played drums for Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, Offspring, Weezer and many more in his career, which spans 55 years.

He has jammed with a vast number of musicians on more than 300 recordings, from genres including rock, pop and country. He has recorded with the likes of big-name artists including Sting, Lana Del Rey and Bruce Springsteen.