Ilan Rubin Is Foo Fighters' New Drummer, Josh Freese Returns to Nine Inch Nails

In a major shake-up just months ahead of their world tour, Foo Fighters have officially recruited Ilan Rubin as their new drummer. The high-profile move follows the departure of Josh Freese in May and comes with a full-circle twist.

Rubin, a multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves, is stepping into a role held by Freese since 2023. The decision marks another turning point for Foo Fighters, who have been rebuilding their rhythm section following the untimely death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022.

While the band has yet to release a formal statement, a rep for Nine Inch Nails confirmed that Freese is rejoining the group he last toured with between 2005 and 2008. Nine Inch Nails also hinted at the news with a celebratory Instagram story tagging Freese and declaring: “Let’s go.”

Rubin, who joined Nine Inch Nails in 2009 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2020, reportedly informed frontman Trent Reznor last week that he was accepting “a job with another band.” Whether Rubin’s role with the Foo Fighters is permanent or limited to touring remains unclear.

The lineup change comes just ahead of Nine Inch Nails’ Peel It Back North American tour, kicking off August 6 at Oakland Arena. The European leg, which began in June, sold out nearly all 15 dates, and the upcoming U.S. shows are expected to be among the year’s biggest. The band is also credited as a whole for scoring Disney’s upcoming Tron: Ares, a first for the industrial rock pioneers.

Josh Freese addressed his departure from Foo Fighters in a heartfelt Instagram post earlier this year, revealing that the band had decided “to go in a different direction.” He added, “I’m not angry, just a bit shocked and disappointed.” Freese's brief but powerful tenure was praised by fans and frontman Dave Grohl, who recently thanked him publicly for his contributions during the band's most emotionally turbulent years.

Foo Fighters are set to resume touring in October, beginning with shows in Jakarta, Singapore, Tokyo, and Osaka. A stop in Mexico City follows in November. The band also recently released their first single since 2023, “Today’s Song,” in honor of their 30th anniversary. In an open letter to fans, Grohl reflected on the band’s journey, writing, “You are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever,” in tribute to Hawkins, and acknowledging that “without the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete.”