Josh Freese reveals how Dave Grohl recruited him for the Foo Fighters

The drummer of Foo Fighters Josh Freese he remembered the moment, totally unexpected by him, in which Dave Grohl asked him to join the band. Freese was announced as the band's new touring drummer in May of last year before heading out on the road for concerts to support the latest album live Foo Fighters “But Here We Are” (read it here review). Previously he had performed on stage with the group in two tribute concerts in memory of the former Foos drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away on March 25, 2022 at the age of 50 years.

During an interview with Rick Beato,

Josh Freese he recalled the day Grohl contacted him about joining the Foo Fighters, It was around Christmas 2022. “I was taking a walk with my wife and some of our dogs, I said to her, 'Ah, Dave tried to call me like 20 minutes ago.' And she said, 'I know why he's calling you.' I swear. God, I didn't think that was the reason. I thought, 'He's going to have a New Year's Eve party. Or he's going to have a plan with all our drummer friends who performed at the tribute concerts.'

When he finally called back Dave Grohlthey talked about Christmas and children before touching on the topic Foo Fighters. “I said, 'Hey, did you go record?' Him: 'Yes, we recorded a lot of stuff. I've been playing the drums, and I'm really happy with how it sounds. I'm really excited.' We talked about the drummer and we want it to be you.”

Freese explained that he felt like someone had punched him in the stomach: “I didn't say, 'Wow! Hurray! This is awesome!' I didn't get emotional like that. I was like, 'Oh my God.' …) There are some times when you say to yourself: 'You know you have to do this, right?' It couldn't have gone any other way after I was asked and was asked by someone I have always respected, not only as a songwriter and singer/guitarist, but as a drummer.”

Josh Freese he then defined Dave Grohl “one big son of a bitch” who has something that “can't be taught.” “Dave is a drummer's drummer. It's not like, 'Oh yeah, he played drums.' No. He's the drummer, you know what I mean? I tried to let him be a source of inspiration and excitement rather than let that would intimidate me or scare me. If you start going down that path, it might intimidate you and scare you. 'My God, I'm Dave Grohl's drummer!' But he makes the way we play together really enjoyable and beautiful and natural.”

Freese further explained that interacting with Grohl on stage has never been nerve-wracking, it's always fun and exciting. “It continues to be bittersweet. Part of me says, 'I wish I wasn't there at all.' I wish there wasn't a reason to be the drummer for Foo Fighters.”