The Foo Fighters recently talked about their drummer changes in an interview. Josh Freese was let go in May 2025, just two years after joining the band following the death of Taylor Hawkins in March 2022. Bassist Nate Mendel explained that the decision was made for the best interest of everyone involved. He didn’t go into details about why things didn’t work out with Freese, saying it wouldn’t help anyone.
Freese had toured with the band throughout 2024 but felt “shocked” and “disappointed” by his dismissal. Ilan Rubin has now taken over drumming duties after leaving Nine Inch Nails, while Freese has returned to work with Trent Reznor.
The band also reflected on William Goldsmith, who was their drummer from 1995 to 1997. Goldsmith left after discovering that Dave Grohl had re-recorded his drum tracks for the album *The Colour and the Shape*. Guitarist Pat Smear noted that Grohl was still learning how to lead the band and that the situation could have been handled better. Mendel mentioned that Grohl sometimes communicates in a “passive-aggressive” way, which contributed to Goldsmith’s departure. Guitarist Chris Shiflett added that Grohl often says “That could be cool” when he really means “No, we’re never doing that.”
The Foo Fighters released a new single called “Caught In The Echo” on March 20. Their 12th studio album, *Your Favorite Toy*, is set to drop on April 24. They recently performed in Dublin, London, and Manchester, and will kick off their European Take Cover tour this summer, including two shows at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. North American dates are scheduled for summer and fall, with an Australia and New Zealand leg planned for 2026 and 2027.
