Drumming News :
As reported earlier this week Iian of Nine Inch Nails is announced as the Foo Fighters new drummer. In a surprising twist worthy of rock’s revolving-door legacy, celebrated drummer Josh Freese is set to rejoin Nine Inch Nails for their upcoming Peel It Back North American tour—marking his return to the band for the first time since 2008. The move comes just months after his departure from Foo Fighters, ending a two-year run that began in the wake of drummer Taylor Hawkins’ death.
Freese, a veteran of the stage and studio with a résumé that includes stints with Guns N’ Roses, DEVO, The Vandals, and A Perfect Circle, called leaving Nine Inch Nails in 2008 “one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make.” At the time, he and his wife were expecting their third child, and Freese felt the pull to step away from relentless touring to focus on family.
“NIN was a band that left me walking off stage every single night thinking, ‘That was incredible. We absolutely crushed it.’ And it wasn’t just a feeling, it was a certainty,” Freese said in a statement shared on Instagram. “That level of intensity, pride, and satisfaction after each show is something I’ve rarely experienced anywhere else.”
Fast-forward 15 years, and life has come full circle. Freese is once again stepping behind the kit for Trent Reznor and company, replacing Ilan Rubin—who ironically succeeded him in NIN back in 2008. In a curious role reversal, Rubin will now take Freese’s former spot in the Foo Fighters, at least for the band’s upcoming international tour dates.
The sudden switch—described by some fans as a “rock and roll trade” reminiscent of pro sports—was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week. While the Foo Fighters cited a desire to go “in a different direction with their drummer,” Freese admitted the decision caught him off guard. “I’m not angry—just a bit shocked and disappointed,” he wrote in May following his dismissal.
Despite the circumstances, Freese’s excitement about returning to Nine Inch Nails is palpable. “Now, being back on tour with Trent and the crew — helping them do what they do best night after night — is something I’m incredibly excited about,” he said. “To be part of that energy again feels amazing. If you get a chance to catch one of these shows over the next six weeks, I promise, they’re going to be absolutely unforgettable.”
Freese will make his live return with NIN on August 6, when the Peel It Back tour launches at Oakland Arena in California. The trek will span over 20 cities, wrapping up with back-to-back shows at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on September 18 and 19.
Nine Inch Nails 2025 North American Tour Dates:
08/06 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
08/08 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
08/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
08/12 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
08/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center
08/15 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
08/17 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
08/19 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/20 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
08/22 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
08/23 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
08/26 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
08/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
08/29 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
08/31 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
09/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
09/03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
09/05 – Raleigh, NC @ Lenovo Center
09/06 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
09/09 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena
09/10 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
09/12 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
09/13 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
09/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
09/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
09/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum
Meanwhile, the Foo Fighters—now with Rubin behind the drum kit—are gearing up for a limited run of shows beginning October 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia, followed by appearances in Singapore, Japan, and Mexico City through mid-November.
For Josh Freese, though, the road ahead is one he knows well. And this time, he’s charging back into the intensity with a clear head, deep appreciation, and trademark ferocity.
“Let’s f–king go,” he wrote to fans. And it’s safe to say: they’re right there with him.
