His thunderous floor toms now echo only on recordings, but the royalty checks – however modest – keep hitting the mailbox. That’s the unexpected reality Josh Freese shared on social media this week, effectively confirming his departure from Foo Fighters. The veteran drummer who stepped in following Taylor Hawkins’ tragic passing posted about “still getting paid” while acknowledging he’s “not on the road with them” anymore, sending waves through the rock community that’s still processing the band’s journey through grief.
The timing raises questions about Foo Fighters’ long-term vision. With summer tour dates still on the calendar, the band must quickly integrate a replacement while preserving the chemistry they’ve built over decades.
The Economics of Modern Drumming
If you’re wondering what session drummers really make, Freese’s post offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain. The screenshot revealed a royalty check for just $0.97 – an amount Freese clearly found amusing enough to share publicly. This transparency highlights the often surprising economics of being a drummer in today’s streaming-dominated landscape.
The modest payment contradicts what many fans assume about musicians in platinum-selling bands. Despite playing on their emotionally charged 2023 album “But Here We Are,” Freese’s compensation appears fractional compared to what founding members might receive.
Since Dave Grohl stepped out from behind the kit to pursue his multiple musical, identities as some rock singers do, Foo Fighters has been through 3 other drummers. The band has remained conspicuously silent about Freese’s departure, offering no official statement about their plans moving forward.
For fans who embraced Freese as the healing presence following Hawkins’ death, this latest transition reopens emotional wounds. Concert attendees had just begun associating Freese’s distinctive style with the band’s rebirth phase.
For aspiring session drummers, Freese’s situation offers a practical reality check about career sustainability. His extensive network across multiple bands – having played with Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses, and A Perfect Circle – demonstrates why top drummers maintain diverse revenue streams rather than relying on single band commitments.
The departure marks another significant shift for a band that has weathered multiple drummer transitions throughout their career. From Grohl’s early days behind the kit to William Goldsmith, Taylor Hawkins, and most recently Freese, each change has brought new dimensions to the band’s sound.
Freese’s exit represents more than just another lineup change. It symbolizes the evolving nature of band structures in modern rock, where even established groups increasingly operate with rotating contributors rather than permanent members.
Whatever drummer sits behind the kit next, Freese’s brief but significant contribution to Foo Fighters’ legacy remains permanently pressed into their catalog – even if the royalties amount to less than the cost of a gumball.
