Taylor Hawkins, we miss you! Many Foo Fighters fans might agree. Heck, even Dave Grohl probably agrees. Hawkins wasn't just a band member but also a mate. He was easy to make music with, but everyone understood where he was going with his drumming and what to expect.
Drumming might seem easy. One keeps the beat, and that is their job. While there are a bunch of talented drummers, the point remains the same. Few, such as Neil Peart, can make a drum almost melodic. The instrument drives the band, especially a rock band, but the fit has to be right.
For whatever reason, veteran drummer Josh Freese does not seem the right fit for Grohl and his band. He has taken Hawkins' place on tours since 2003, and one might assume that once the band started making records again, he would be part of the group. As it turns out, he won't be. The band fired him this week.
Foo Fighters fire drummer Josh Freese in unexpected move
Freese did not see the move coming, though. We know this because he took to Instagram to express his surprise at the change and express his appreciation for being with the Foo Fighters for a couple of years. He will find a new gig because he always has, but he has never been fired.
Freese wrote in part, "The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they've decided 'to go in a different direction with their drummer.' No reason was given... In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I've never been let go from a band, so while I'm not angry, just a bit shocked and disappointed."
There could be a lot behind Freese's termination, though neither he nor we knows why. Grohl said the band was taking a break after he had some personal issues that forced him to focus on his life a bit more. Maybe that time has passed, and the Foos are ready to get back into the recording studio.
The move would be logical because Freese has not recorded with the band. Grohl may want to add a more permanent drummer to be in the studio with the group while also touring with the band. Whether this is the case or not, we likely won't know for some time.
The bad part for Freese is that he accepted a job in which he was nearly doomed to be fired, or so it seems. Hawkins will always be considered part of the band, and his permanent replacement will always be seen as just a replacement.
Of course, Grohl does the drumming on many Foo Fighters records, so maybe the change from Freese is ultimately meaningless. Perhaps the move implies that the Foo Fighters will never make another studio album, and they wanted to give Freese a chance to work with a band that would. Anything is possible.