Taking to his socials, Josh Freese announced the news, suggesting that the band have decided "to go in a different direction with their drummer", without giving a reason why.
"Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band," he wrote. "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. But as most of you know I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine. Stay tuned for my “Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters” list."
Freese is a longtime friend of Dave Grohl, and joined Foo Fighters on drums during Hawkins tribute concerts last year at London’s Wembley Stadium and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum. He is a well-respected session drummer who has performed with the likes of Devo, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, The Replacements to Sting, Weezer, A Perfect Circle, The Offspring, Danny Elfman, and Paramore.