Josh Freese Honors Taylor Hawkins In 1st Death Anniversary

Josh Freese commemorated his first anniversary with the Foo Fighters by paying tribute to his predecessor, Taylor Hawkins.

On May 21, 2023, during a livestream event titled Foo Fighters: Preparing Music For Concerts, the band announced Freese as their new drummer. The reveal was playful, featuring interactions with famous drummers like Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, before confirming Freese’s role.

Despite the lighthearted nature of the announcement, it followed the tragic death of Hawkins. The longtime Foo Fighters drummer, who had been with the band for 25 years, passed away suddenly on March 25, 2022, just as the band was about to perform in Bogota, Colombia. Following his passing, two tribute concerts celebrated Hawkins’ life, with Freese participating in both.

Josh Freese and Foo Fighters Remember Taylor Hawkins

Reflecting on his first year with the band, Freese took to Instagram to share his thoughts. “A year ago today this aired,” Freese wrote, alongside clips from the special event. He mentioned the reveal was once referred to as “the worst kept secret in the music business,” though he felt they managed to keep it under wraps quite well.

“I love the way it came out and am proud of it,” Freese continued. He humorously suggested that the band only needed to play “All My Life” because of how great it was. Despite the joy of joining the Foo Fighters, Freese expressed his ongoing sorrow over Hawkins’ death:

“I continue to miss Taylor as does the band, his family, friends, and the rest of the world. We also continue to try and make the most of the situation by moving forward and doing what we love doing… playing music, honoring Taylor and staying positive.”

In his first year, Freese has performed nearly 70 shows with the Foo Fighters. The band is gearing up for a busy summer, with tour dates across the U.K. and Europe, before returning to the U.S. for a series of performances starting in July. As they continue to honor Hawkins’ legacy, the Foo Fighters and Freese remain committed to their music and fans.