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WE HAVE A DRUMMER.
Yesterday during Foo's livestreaming "Preparing Music For Concerts", the band announced their new drummer: Josh Freese. Freese is a session drummer who recently played with the Offspring. Not including Dave Grohl, Freese is the third drummer to join Foo Fighters; before Hawkins, William Goldsmith performed on the band’s 1997 album, The Colour and Shape.
The livestream opened with an extended bit where Foo Fighters teased that famous drummers would join the lineup. Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers (a friend of the late Hawkins) showed up to say he was being blocked in by a different car outside the studio. Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee popped in to deliver some takeout for the band. Tool’s Danny Carey showed up to drop off some dogs he apparently groomed for the group. The camera finally panned over to Freese, who expressed frustration that they hadn’t already started rehearsing.
Freese is a prolific session and touring drummer. As a session musician, he recently played on the new M83 and 100 gecs albums. Over the past decade, he’s contributed to new records by Lana Del Rey, Rob Zombie, Bruce Springsteen, A Perfect Circle, Sting (with Shaggy), and many more. He’s toured and recorded with Danny Elfman, was a member of Devo’s recent live lineups, and, in the past, has been a member of Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, the Vandals, Weezer, and Sublime With Rome. His credits include the Evanescence hit “Bring Me to Life,” Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch,” Good Charlotte’s “The Anthem,” and Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me.” During the livestream, Freese spoke with Grohl about covering Top 40 hits in a band at Disneyland when he was 12.