Foo Fighters officially name its new drummer to replace Taylor Hawkins during a live-streamed event this weekend, ‘Preparing Music for Concerts.’
As many fans predicted, Foo Fighters revealed their new drummer during a live-streamed event on Sunday, “Preparing Music for Concerts.” And, as many fans anticipated, the band’s new drummer is session musician Josh Freese, who played with the Foo Fighters for their Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts in London and Los Angeles last year.
The band embarks on a massive tour — their first without Taylor Hawkins, the group’s drummer who died tragically last year in Colombia — beginning in New Hampshire on May 24. Foo Fighters announced late last year their intentions to continue as a band, but they’ve gone to great lengths to keep the identity of their new drummer private.
The group continued to play into the anticipation during the beginning of their live-stream, entitled “Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts,” featuring members of the band joking around in their rehearsal room. First, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith knocks on the group’s door, followed by Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and Tool’s Danny Carey — each with a line like, “Hey, I got the PF Changs!” and the group responding with things like, “We’ll be right there!”
Finally, a voice shouts, “EXCUSE ME?!” The band members turn to look at Josh Freese — sitting behind a drumkit and off-camera up to that point. Freese exclaims, “Can we play a song or something?!” before the band launches into songs from their upcoming album, But Here We Are, dropping on June 2.
Between songs, we’re treated to Freese and the other band members discussing the music and Freese’s history working with other bands. While the band made the pre-recorded stream appear like the typical behind-the-scenes band rehearsal fare, it’s obvious the group had fun with it in the way fans have come to expect from the Dave Grohl-fronted outfit.
A longtime friend of the band, Freese is a veteran session performer who has worked with Guns N’ Roses, A Perfect Circle, Puddle of Mudd, Nine Inch Nails, Paramore, The Replacements, Weezer, Sting, and the Vandals — and countless more across pop, rock, and country.
Foo Fighters’ tour begins May 24 at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford, NH.