Dave Grohl Explains How Foo Fighters Freed Ilan Rubin

Dave Grohl has reflected on the creative transformation of Ilan Rubin since the drummer joined Foo Fighters, describing it as a newfound sense of artistic liberation following his long stint with Nine Inch Nails. Speaking to Studio Brussel, Grohl contrasted Rubin’s past and present musical environments, emphasizing how the shift has allowed his full range as a drummer to emerge.

“You know with Nine Inch Nails, what’s their music is like it requires this like very sort of pattern specific grooves and rhythms and the drumming is like you know it has to be very linked up and click track and everything like that and just has to be like mechanical right,” Grohl said. “So when he joined our band it was the first time that he hadn’t played live with a click track in 17 years.”

Letting Go of the Grid

Grohl explained that Rubin initially approached Foo Fighters with the same rigid mindset shaped by years of precision-based performance. However, that approach quickly shifted once Grohl encouraged him to loosen up and embrace spontaneity.

“So he starts playing with us and he still had this mindset that it has to be sort of like patterned and sound like the record,” Grohl continued. “And you know, I’m a drummer, too. And he would do something and I’d go, ‘Ilan, do that. Keep doing that.’ And he’s like, ‘Are you sure?’ I’m like, ‘F*ck yes.’ Like, ‘Go crazy. Just go crazy.’”

The result, according to Grohl, has been remarkable. “And you could see like he’s started spreading his wings and now it’s like he’s such a phenomenal drummer,” he said. “His capabilities are off the charts. And he’ll do drum solos sometimes during shows and I’m just laughing like how the did you just do that? It’s unbelievable. So yeah, he has this new sort of liberation and freedom with us that he’s just shining, you know? He’s incredible.”

Closing One Era, Starting Another

Rubin’s move signals the end of a major chapter with Nine Inch Nails, the industrial rock project led by Trent Reznor. He joined the band in 2009 following the departure of Josh Freese and remained a key member for more than 16 years, contributing to numerous tours and recordings.

In July 2025, Rubin was officially announced as Foo Fighters’ new drummer, joining Grohl alongside Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett, and Rami Jaffee. His live debut came on September 14 at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California, marking the beginning of a more fluid and improvisational phase in his career.

Notably, both Rubin and his predecessor, Josh Freese, share ties to Nine Inch Nails—an unusual overlap that highlights the interconnected nature of the rock world and adds further intrigue to this evolving lineup shift.