Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has offered fresh insight into why the band moved on from touring drummer Josh Freese, framing the decision as a matter of chemistry rather than chops, The Irish Times reported.
Grohl’s comments revisit a lineup change that drew attention after Freese stepped in following the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins and later departed in 2023.
Discussing what makes a band’s rhythm section click, Grohl said drumming is ultimately about “feel” and the hard-to-define sense of when playing with someone goes from “really good” to “f*cking amazing.”
“A drummer’s playing is based on feel. That’s all drumming is: feel,” Grohl said. “It’s hard to define when you’re playing with someone and it feels ‘right,’ or when you’re playing with someone who feels ‘really good,’ and then you’re playing with someone and it feels ‘f*cking amazing.’”
Grohl added that the right fit comes down to “personality,” connection, and the shared rhythm between players, comparing it to a recipe where the final seasoning is “to taste.” He said the group knows what feels best for Foo Fighters, suggesting the choice was guided by an internal sense of what serves the band’s dynamic.
“It’s personality, it’s your connection, your rhythm that you have together,” he continued. “It’s just a combination, or a recipe – when you’re cooking something and it says, ‘Salt and pepper to taste’ at the end of the recipe; that’s defined by you. We know what feels best for our band.”
The remarks align with how the band has previously spoken about the transition period after Hawkins’ death, and they follow earlier reporting about how the split was handled, including a Foo Fighters drummer detailing the call after Josh Freese’s firing.
Freese remains one of rock’s most in-demand drummers, with a lengthy résumé across major touring and session work, but Grohl’s explanation underlines that technical ability is only part of the equation. For Foo Fighters, the next step appears to be continuing the search for the specific feel and connection Grohl says ultimately defines the right lineup.
