Following the passing of Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters have introduced Josh Freese, a seasoned session musician, as their replacement drummer.
Foo Fighters introduce Josh Freese
Over the course of his three-decade career, Freese has accumulated a lengthy and impressive list of credits. The drummer, who is 50 years old, has been a part of the Vandals since 1989 and Devo since 1996. Besides the Offspring, he has performed on tour with Guns N’ Roses, Danny Elfman, Weezer, Sting, Paramore, Nine Inch Nails, and 100 Gecs.
The information was made public by the band on Sunday in a mocking livestream dubbed “Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts” that included “a few surprises”.
The webcast, which was recorded in their studio, began with the band teasing the identity of their new drummer by inviting a number of well-known appearances.
Chad Smith, the drummer for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, made a raucous arrival before complaining that someone was obstructing his path in the parking lot. Tommy Lee of Motley Crue and Danny Carey of Tool both turned up with food deliveries and a pair of poodles, respectively.
The action was suddenly broken short by a voice, and the camera panned to an irate Freese who had been waiting off-camera behind a drum set. He said, “Excuse me!” Could we perhaps simply play a song?
Thanks for joining us. It will be streaming on @Veeps for 72 hours on demand if you missed it: https://t.co/hzz5G9mOKy
We'll see you all soon. pic.twitter.com/c7NATC6lzD
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 21, 2023
The broadcast included an eight-song set that included brand-new songs off the upcoming 11th album by the Foo Fighters, But Here We Are.
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After the passing of Hawkins, who passed away at the age of 50 last year while on tour in Colombia, the band declared in January that they would stay together and go on playing.
They said in a statement that they “never would have become the band that we were” without Taylor. “And without Taylor, we know that we’re going to be a different band moving forward.”
On May 24, Freese will perform with the Foo Fighters for the first time in New Hampshire, kicking off a world tour that will go until late 2023.
Since Hawkins’ two memorial performances last September, in which an all-star lineup of artists, including Paul McCartney, Queen, and Mark Ronson, paid homage to the late drummer, the band has not performed live until this tour.
At those events, Freese personally onto the stage with Foo Fighters and played the drums instead of Hawkins.
At the time, he said on Instagram, “I was asked what drums I’d want to use. I stated, “Taylor’s drums need to be up there, and I want to play on his exact set-up,” without thinking twice.
Although no specific cause of death for Hawkins has been revealed, a toxicology analysis revealed that residues of 10 drugs, including opioids, marijuana, and antidepressants, were present in Hawkins’ body.