Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Clarifies Josh Freese's Exit: 'It Was a Collective Decision'

Dave Grohl has finally addressed Josh Freese’s departure from Foo Fighters, explaining that the decision for the drummer to move on was a collective one that “didn’t happen overnight.”

Speaking in a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Grohl reflected on the band’s discussions following Freese’s exit last year. Freese, who stepped in as Foo Fighters’ drummer in 2023 after the death of Taylor Hawkins, revealed in May that he had been let go from the group, stating the band had decided “to go in a different direction with their drummer” and that “no reason was given.”

Grohl clarified that the band spent months discussing their next steps before making the call.

“In those six or seven months, as a band, we talked about what to do next, a new direction, and thought, ‘OK, let’s call Josh and let him know that we are going to move on with a different drummer,’” Grohl explained.

“We called, as a band, all of us called, it wasn’t just me.”

Grohl described the conversation as direct and appreciative. “Basically, we called Josh, and were like, ‘Hey man, that was awesome. That was such a blast, thank you so much, but we are going to move on and find another drummer.’”

Following the call, Grohl noted that the band chose not to publicly address the situation at the time. “After that, we didn’t make a press release, tweet anything or do interviews. We didn’t say anything,” he said. “Since then, there’s been a lot of talk about it, but I think Josh said it best when he said that he didn’t feel our music really resonated with him, and that’s really important.”

Freese has since rejoined Nine Inch Nails and recently filled in for Weezer during their Australian run for the Good Things Festival.

Grohl’s comments come as Foo Fighters prepare to release their 12th studio album, Your Favorite Toy, due April 24. The band dropped the title track, with Grohl describing it as a pivotal moment in shaping the new record’s direction.

“‘Your Favorite Toy’ really was the key that unlocked the tone and energetic direction of the new album,” Grohl said. “We stumbled upon it after experimenting with different sounds and dynamics for over a year, and the day it took shape I knew that we had to follow its lead. It was the fuse to the powder keg of songs we wound up recording for this record. It feels new.”

The album announcement arrives ahead of Foo Fighters’ upcoming stadium tour of Australia and New Zealand, scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027.

Freese joined Foo Fighters in 2023 during a transitional period for the band following Hawkins’ sudden passing in 2022. His tenure marked a significant chapter in the group’s evolution as they continued touring and recording in the wake of the loss.

With a new album on the way and international tour dates lined up, Grohl’s comments offer the clearest explanation yet of the band’s decision to make another lineup change.

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