Josh Freese Shares ‘Top 10 Possible Reasons’ He Got ‘Booted’ From the Foo Fighters
After revealing that the Foo Fighters had dropped him for “no reason” last week, drummer Josh Freese has shared a list of possible catalysts for the band’s surprising decision.
In a lighthearted post on Instagram Monday (May 19) — three days after he first shared the news of his removal — the musician shared a graphic labeled, “Top 10 possible reasons Freese got booted from the Foos.”
The reasons listed include, “Once whistled ‘My Hero’ for a week solid on tour” (No. 10) and “Metronome-like precision behind the kit deemed ‘soulless'” (No. 7), as well as “Never once tried growing a beard” (No. 5). A proud owner of several of the curly-haired dogs, Freese also mused that the No. 1 possible reason for the shakeup was that the “whole poodle thing was getting to be a bit much.”
In his caption, Freese simply shared the hashtags, “#lol,” “#peaceoutrainbowtrout” and “#byefelicia.”
The percussionist had been the Dave Grohl-fronted band’s drummer since 2023, taking over the sticks after Taylor Hawkins died the year prior. Before that, he worked as a session musician for The Offspring, Lostprophets, the Replacements and more bands.
On Friday (May 16), he shared via a statement on Instagram, “The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given.”
“Regardless, 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 continued in the post. “In my 40 years of drummer of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry, [I’m] just a bit shocked and disappointed.”
At the time of Freese’s announcement, representatives for the Foo Fighters declined Billboard’s request for comment.
See Freese’s post below.
Hannah Dailey
Billboard