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Josh Freese: 14 Songs the New Foo Fighters Drummer Played On

By Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Josh Freese is a noted session drummer that’s also currently a member of the punk band The Vandals and new wave icons Devo. Now, he’s added a third band to that short list: Foo Fighters.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band lost their longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in March 2022 when he died suddenly at age 50. Since Hawkins’ death, the Foos were silent for 17 months about who would be their new drummer. They broke their silence on May 21 when Freese was unveiled as the new Foo drummer during a special livestream event.

Freese’s career spans five decades, and his list of credits is as impressive as it is lengthy. For those that may not be super familiar with his work, here are just 14 songs Freese has played on.

  • Devo - 'Girl U Want'

    “Girl U Want” was originally released in 1980 on Devo’s album Freedom of Choice, which notably featured “Whip It.” The track was re-recorded in 1995 for the Lori Petty film Tank Girl, and this version features Freese on drums.

  • Sting - '50,000'

    “50,000” is featured on Sting’s 2016 album 57th & 9th. The song serves as a tribute to a number of late musicians that died during the making of the album including Prince, David Bowie, Glenn Frey and Lemmy Kilmister.

  • Meredith Brooks - 'Bitch'

    Freese drummed on Meredith Brooks’ 1997 album Blurring the Edges, which featured the smash hit “Bitch.” The track peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number two.

  • Bruce Springsteen - 'This Is Your Sword'

    Freese is one of many musicians that played on Springsteen’s 2014 album High Hopes. The lone track he played on was “This Is Your Sword.”

  • Guns N' Roses - 'Oh My God'

    Freese was briefly a member of Guns N’ Roses from 1997-2000. During that time, he appeared on “Oh My God,” which was featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 film End of Days.

  • Nine Inch Nails - 'Capital G'

    Another major band Freese was a member of was Nine Inch Nails. The drummer was in NIN from 2005-2008 and played on two tracks from the band’s 2007 album Year Zero: “Hyperpower!” and “Capital G,” which is embedded below.

  • Chris Cornell - 'Can't Change Me'

    Freese drummed on a majority of the tracks on Chris Cornell’s 1999 debut solo album Euphoria Mourning. Among those tracks was the LP’s lead single “Can’t Change Me.”

  • Avril Lavigne - 'When You're Gone'

    Freese has ample experience drumming for female solo artists. Avril Lavigne is just one of them, and Freese can be heard drumming on her 2007 ballad “When You’re Gone.”

  • Puddle of Mudd - 'She Hates Me'

    Freese can be heard on some notable 2000’s rock songs. Not only can he be heard on Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me,” but he drummed on all of the tracks from the band’s 2001 debut album Come Clean, which also features “Blurry.”

  • Good Charlotte - 'The Anthem'

    Throw all your hands up! Freese can be heard on Good Charlotte’s hit 2002 album The Young and the Hopeless, which features “The Anthem.”

  • 3 Doors Down - 'When I'm Gone'

    Freese also drummed on 3 Doors Down’s 2002 album Away from the Sun and 2005’s Seventeen Days. The biggest hit from these albums was the moving “When I’m Gone,” which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number four.

  • Evanescence - 'Bring Me to Life'

    Evanescence’s 2003 debut album Fallen features Freese’s drumming. The LP has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) moving over 10 million units and has sold over 17 million units worldwide. Its lead single “Bring Me to Life” peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number five, and the song’s video has been viewed over one billion times on YouTube.

  • The Offspring - 'Let The Bad Times Roll'

    While Freese has never been an official member of The Offspring, he has played on a number of their albums, including 2021’s Let the Bad Times Roll, their latest LP.

  • Kelly Clarkson - 'Low'

    Freese can be heard on “Low” off the 2003 album Thankful, which is the debut LP of inaugural American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson.

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