The Drummer's Dilemma: Josh Freese on His Tricky Departure from Foo Fighters

It's funny, isn't it? Life has a way of coming full circle, often in the most unexpected and public of ways. For Josh Freese, the legendary drummer whose rhythm has graced countless iconic tracks, that full circle moment recently arrived with his official return to the Foo Fighters. But before this triumphant comeback, there was a different chapter, one shrouded in a little more… well, let's just call it nuance. Freese has candidly shared his feelings about his initial departure from the band way back in the late 1990s, admitting it's a topic he’s had to tread very, very carefully around.

Back then, after William Goldsmith's exit, Freese stepped in to lay down some serious drum tracks for the Foo Fighters' seminal album, The Colour and the Shape. He was there, he played, he contributed – a vital, if somewhat unsung, part of that era. But the story took a turn, as these things often do in the high-stakes world of rock and roll. According to Freese, the writing was on the wall, leading to a rather direct conversation where Dave Grohl essentially communicated that a change was coming, and Taylor Hawkins was going to be the guy.

Imagine the scene: a dinner, a discussion, and an offer that, from Freese’s perspective, felt less like a genuine invitation to stay and more like… a gesture of kindness, perhaps? A sort of “mercy thing,” as he put it. Grohl, from his side, maintains he genuinely wanted Freese to remain, even proposing a retainer to keep him involved. But for Freese, it didn't quite land that way. He felt the offer, whatever its intention, was somewhat demeaning, an insult even, and thus made the decision to step aside, or perhaps, felt he had no choice but to accept his fate.

It’s a classic rock and roll tale of differing recollections, isn't it? One person's 'I tried to keep you' is another's 'You let me go.' And in hindsight, with the incredible career Freese went on to build – playing with everyone from A Perfect Circle and Devo to Weezer and The Vandals – it’s clear he landed on his feet, and then some. He truly became one of music's most sought-after and respected drummers, a true workhorse of the industry.

Now, decades later, with Freese back in the Foo Fighters' drum seat, taking over for the late, great Taylor Hawkins, the sensitivity around this old chapter is palpable. It’s no longer just a personal anecdote; it's part of the band's history, and his own, now intertwined in a whole new way. Discussing the intricacies of being 'fired' – or mutually parting ways, depending on whose memory you lean into – from a band he now proudly belongs to requires a certain delicate touch. It's a testament to his professionalism and, frankly, his humanity, that he approaches such a nuanced historical moment with such thoughtful consideration.