Foo Fighters are due to return with new album But Here We Are in June, marking their first since the tragic death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins last year. With tour dates approaching, the band have yet to reveal who will be behind the kit, though it appears Josh Freese is definitely in the running.
Variety reports that Freese — who played with Foo Fighters and special guests at a Hawkins tribute concert in London last year — has recently cleared his schedule of prior performance commitments. The site points out that Ilan Rubin will now join Danny Elfman in Freese's stead for a pair of California performances in August, while former Suicidal Tendencies drummer Brandon Pertzborn officially replaced Freese as a full-time member of the Offspring earlier this month.
Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron had also been rumoured to be in the running to tour with the Foos, but quashed rumours he would head out on the road with the band in March.
Freese and Hawkins both grew up in Orange County, with the former sharing after last year's tribute concert, "Whenever we were in a group full of musicians (usually far away from home somewhere), we'd joke that we were the only 2 guys from O.C. in the room."
The tribute event at Wembley Stadium saw Freese specifically request to play Hawkins's drum kit. He shared, "Without hesitation, I said, 'Taylor's drums need to be up there and I want to play on his exact setup. I want THAT energy to be up there on THAT stage."
Foo Fighters were recently announced as headliners of Riot Fest 2023 in Chicago. Closer to home, the band's major Canadian performances include stops at Ottawa's RBC Bluesfest 2023 and Festival d'été de Québec 2023.
There's a very good chance you've heard Freese's drumming before without realizing it. Outside of longer-term commitments with bands like Devo, a Perfect Circle and Nine Inch Nails, the artist is also recognized as a session star who has played on hundreds of albums, including releases by Weezer, Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Ween, Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Miley Cyrus and many more.
But Here We Are arrives June 2 through Roswell / RCA. Today, Foo Fighters shared new song "Under You."
Variety reports that Freese — who played with Foo Fighters and special guests at a Hawkins tribute concert in London last year — has recently cleared his schedule of prior performance commitments. The site points out that Ilan Rubin will now join Danny Elfman in Freese's stead for a pair of California performances in August, while former Suicidal Tendencies drummer Brandon Pertzborn officially replaced Freese as a full-time member of the Offspring earlier this month.
Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron had also been rumoured to be in the running to tour with the Foos, but quashed rumours he would head out on the road with the band in March.
Freese and Hawkins both grew up in Orange County, with the former sharing after last year's tribute concert, "Whenever we were in a group full of musicians (usually far away from home somewhere), we'd joke that we were the only 2 guys from O.C. in the room."
The tribute event at Wembley Stadium saw Freese specifically request to play Hawkins's drum kit. He shared, "Without hesitation, I said, 'Taylor's drums need to be up there and I want to play on his exact setup. I want THAT energy to be up there on THAT stage."
Foo Fighters were recently announced as headliners of Riot Fest 2023 in Chicago. Closer to home, the band's major Canadian performances include stops at Ottawa's RBC Bluesfest 2023 and Festival d'été de Québec 2023.
There's a very good chance you've heard Freese's drumming before without realizing it. Outside of longer-term commitments with bands like Devo, a Perfect Circle and Nine Inch Nails, the artist is also recognized as a session star who has played on hundreds of albums, including releases by Weezer, Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Ween, Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Miley Cyrus and many more.
But Here We Are arrives June 2 through Roswell / RCA. Today, Foo Fighters shared new song "Under You."
