Nine Inch Nails Singer Talks About Switching Drummer with Foo Fighters

Josh Freese in Nine Inch Nails (Instagram @nineinchnails)

JAKARTA - One of the surprising events in the rock music scene is the ebb and flow of personnel between Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails. Ilan Rubin is now joining Dave Grohl Cs, while Josh Freese is believed to fill the void at NIN.

Freese's departure from the Foo Fighters itself still invites many questions. Having lasted two years as the successor to the late Taylor Hawkins, the drummer does not know for sure why he was fired from the Seattle-based band.

"(Until now) I don't know for sure. Yes, I have some theories but it seems people are interested in this because they (Foo Fighters) are a big band and I hesitate to comment, because whatever I say will be a wild ball and spread out there," he said in an interview with Loudwire, December 10.

Meanwhile, Nine Inch Nails vocalist Trent Reznor warmly welcomed Josh Freese as a new family. He explained how the process of exchanging the drummer finally happened.

"The reality of the scenario is, I'm surprised Ilan joined the Foo Fighters. Ilan is a great musician and has been a solid figure during his time in the band, but it caused problems because we knew there was another part of the tour we would start in February [2026]. And we could replace it immediately [after the European tour early summer 2025] or after the North American tour [late summer 2025], which means we have to find someone during the holidays," said Reznor.

Filling the void is not easy for Nine Inch Nails. Reznor et al did not hesitate to invite Freese who already had a track record with big bands like Sublime with Rome, Weezer to Guns N' Roses.

"As soon as I heard the news, I immediately thought of calling Josh and he could perform tonight, because there is no doubt about his ability. And the point is, that's what happened. He was available and willing, and it made sense from many sides," said the vocalist.

The Nine Inch Nails concert tour, the Peel It Back Tour 2026, will begin again on February 5, 2026 in New Orleans, continuing to Jacksonville, Charlotte to Las Vegas. A number of cities in Canada will also be their destinations early next year.