Latest news with #JoshFreese
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Grohl honors late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on debut album's 30th anniversary: 'We all miss you'
Foo Fighters are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their eponymous 1995 debut album by paying tribute to those who have rocked with them over the years, including their beloved late drummer, Taylor Hawkins. The Grammy-winning rockers dropped a surprise single in honor of the milestone achievement on Wednesday. The roaring track, titled 'Today's Song," follows frontman Dave Grohl as he reflects on his own personal growth, navigating life's hardships, and the passage of time — themes that he further expanded upon in a poignant statement published on the band's website. 'Over the years, we've had moments of unbridled joy, and moments of devastating heartbreak,' Grohl wrote in part. 'Moments of beautiful victory, and moments of painful defeat. We have mended broken bones and broken hearts. But we have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what. Because in life, you just can't go it alone.' The 56-year-old musician also took a moment to thank the band's previous members, including their latest drummer Josh Freese, who replaced Hawkins behind the drums on the last Foo Fighters tour and announced that he'd been let go from the group in May. 'It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of William Goldsmith, the seasoned wisdom of Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete,' Grohl explained, 'so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen.' And last, but certainly never least, Grohl shared a heartfelt message to Hawkins, who died suddenly at 50 while the band was on tour in 2022. 'And… Taylor. Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever,' he confirmed. 'The enormity of your beautiful soul is only rivaled by the infinite longing we feel in your absence. We all miss you beyond words. Foo Fighters will forever include Taylor Hawkins in every note that we play, until we do finally reach our destination.' But the end isn't in sight just yet. In his note, Grohl shared that 'I am still grateful for life, love, music, and the mystery of where this path may lead us next,' adding, 'Let's keep moving.' 'Today's Song' comes almost two years after the release of the band's 2023 album But Here We Are, which served as an exploration of grief following the death of Hawkins and Grohl's mother, Virginia. The album was shortlisted as one of Entertainment Weekly's best albums of the year at the time, calling it a 'stirring exploration of how we process grief and the many discordant emotions that come with it." Listen to 'Today's Song' above. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Foo Fighters release first new song since Dave Grohl infidelity scandal and firing of drummer
Foo Fighters have released their first brand new music after a difficult period for the band during which frontman Dave Grohl announced he had fathered a child outside his marriage, and drummer Josh Freese was let go from the group. Today's Song, which features artwork by Grohl's daughter Harper, is a typically anthemic Foo Fighters track with Grohl full of existential angst: 'I woke today screaming for change / I knew that I must / So, here lies a shadow / Ashes to ashes / Dust into dust.' Grohl wrote a lengthy letter alongside the release, retelling the story of the band and acknowledging former band members, including Freese: 'It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of William Goldsmith, the seasoned wisdom of Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete, so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen.' Freese said in May that he was 'not angry – just a bit shocked and disappointed' when he was told that Foo Fighters wanted 'to go in a different direction with their drummer'. Foo Fighters did not comment on Freese's departure. Freese was the replacement for Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022 aged 50. Grohl paid tribute to Hawkins in his letter, saying: 'Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever.' A new drummer has not been announced; a statement alongside Today's Song says: 'Foo Fighters are Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee.' Grohl is married to Jordyn Blum, the mother of three of his daughters. In September 2024 he said in a statement: 'I've recently become the father of a new baby daughter, born outside of my marriage. I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her. I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and earn their forgiveness.' In his announcement of Today's Song, Grohl perhaps made an oblique reference to these widely publicised struggles, using the metaphor of a lobster shedding its shell. 'The point being that life's challenges have a way of signalling the need for change and growth, so when that time comes, you retreat, rebuild, and resurface stronger than before.' The admission of infidelity somewhat tarnished the image of a man who was often described as 'the nicest man in rock'. Foo Fighters cancelled a headline festival performance and retreated from the public eye for a time, though Grohl reunited with Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic in January for a benefit concert after the LA wildfires. Foo Fighters will return to live music in October, playing four concerts across east Asia and another in Mexico City in November. Their most recent album is 2023's But Here We Are. Earlier this week they released I Don't Wanna Hear It, a cover of a song by punk band Minor Threat, with instrumentals recorded in 1995 but vocals recorded earlier this year.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Foo Fighters Return With ‘Today's Song,' Celebrating 30th Anniversary and Honoring Departed Bandmembers
It's been a rough few years for Foo Fighters, with the death of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, the recent departure of his replacement, Josh Freese, and founder Dave Grohl's family issues. But the band is back with a new song that is not only a tribute to their departed bandmembers but is also described as the 'opening salvo of its next chapter.' It also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the band's 1995 debut (which was performed almost entirely by Grohl, but it's still the band's debut). The song, which is the first new music from the band since 2023's 'But Here We Are' album,' opens quietly with Grohl singing over gently guitar chords, 'I woke today, screaming for change.' It soon opens up into one of the band's familiar anthems, with lyrics about optimism and overcoming adversity, a roaring chorus and power chords. While the band has not named a new drummer, it's safe to assume that Grohl, one of the greatest drummers in rock history, took on the task himself. More from Variety Ex-Foo Fighters Drummer Josh Freese Lists 10 Hilarious Reasons Why He Got Fired Foo Fighters Fire Josh Freese, Drummer Is 'Shocked and Disappointed' Dave Grohl and Cynthia Erivo Join Dudamel and the LA Phil for Coachella Weekend 2 Performance While the lyrics to the song don't seem to address the band's recent challenges directly, Grohl certainly did in a social media post. 'Over the years, we've had moments of unbridled joy, and moments of devastating heartbreak. Moments of beautiful victory, and moments of painful defeat,' he wrote. 'We have mended broken bones and broken hearts. But we have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what. Because in life, you just can't go it alone. 'It should go without saying that without the boundless energy of William Goldsmith, the seasoned wisdom of Franz Stahl, and the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete, so we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the time, music, and memories that we shared with each of them over the years. Thank you, gentlemen. 'And… Taylor. Your name is spoken every day, sometimes with tears, sometimes with a smile, but you are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever. The enormity of your beautiful soul is only rivaled by the infinite longing we feel in your absence. We all miss you beyond words. Foo Fighters will forever include Taylor Hawkins in every note that we play, until we do finally reach our destination.' In the press release, the bandmembers are listed as Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee — and presumably a new drummer will be announced before the group's overseas tour dates this fall, which are listed below. Oct 2 – Jakarta, ID – Carnaval Ancol Oct 4 – Singapore, SG – F1 Oct 7 – Tokyo, JP – Saitama Super Arena Oct 10 – Osaka, JP – Glion Arena Kobe Nov 14 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Best of Variety Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Foo Fighters, Chappell Roan Head South For Corona Capital
In what will be one of their first shows with an as-yet-unidentified new drummer, Foo Fighters have signed on as a headliner for the Corona Capital festival, which will be held Nov. 14-16 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Chappell Roan and Linkin Park will anchor the other two nights. As previously reported, the Foos abruptly fired Josh Freese last month after less than two years in the band, and his replacement has yet to be named. Beyond Corona Capital, the Dave Grohl-led group's schedule also includes four other fall shows in Asia, beginning Oct. 2 in Jakarta. More from Spin: Sabrina Carpenter Calls Out A 'Manchild' On New Single No 'Kidding': Alex Warren Expands Latest LP Big Thief Mull 'Infinity' On Upcoming Album As for Corona Capital, it will also feature performances by Queens of the Stone Age, Franz Ferdinand, Garbage, Lucy Dacus, Vampire Weekend, Aurora, Alabama shakes, the reunited Grizzly Bear, Jelly Roll, Deftones, Weezer, James, AFI, Men I Trust, Pinkpantheress and TV on the Radio, among many others. Click here for tickets. Corona Capital will also be hosting smaller events in Merida, Guadalajara and Monterrey in celebration of its parent beer's 100th anniversary, with details to be announced. To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Why rock bands keep firing their drummers
It has been a bad couple of weeks for drummers in huge bands. Firstly, on May 16, Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese announced that he was 'shocked and disappointed' to have been 'let go' by the US rockers for no apparent reason. Then, four days later, Zak Starkey, drummer for The Who, said he'd been kicked out of the band for the second time in a month. 'I was fired two weeks after reinstatement,' wrote a bewildered-sounding Starkey on Instagram, describing the situation as 'mayhem'. And this is from a man whose family has precedent in drummer drama: Starkey's father Ringo Starr walked out on The Beatles in 1968. The difference here, though, is that it was Starr's decision – he was greeted back into the fold a few days later with a studio full of flowers, an eventuality you suspect will elude his skin-smacking son. The unfortunate truth is that Freese and Starkey are the latest in a long line of drummers who have been unceremoniously axed over the decades. The aforementioned Beatles sacked Pete Best just as the band were taking off; Oasis binned original drummer Tony McCarroll once they went supersonic, while Stan Lynch left Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers after reports of tension in 1994. Guns N' Roses fired original sticksman Steven Adler in 1990 (and parted ways with their drummer of 19 years Frank Ferrer back in March). Meanwhile, grunge band Nirvana went through six drummers before settling on Dave Grohl, ironically the Foo Fighter-in-chief responsible for Freese-ing out his bandmate. Even mild-mannered Chris Martin sacked Coldplay drummer Will Champion briefly in 1999 (guilt-wracked Martin wrote the ballad Trouble by way of apology). As a percussionist might say, there's a pattern here. So why are drummers always getting fired? Like a Neil Peart drum solo, it's complicated (the late Rush drummer's kit comprised up to 40 drums). But the answer lies in a mixture of misplaced band hierarchy, an entrenched and unjustified cliché that casts drummers as expendable jokes, the geeky tendencies of the people behind the kits and – frankly – noise. 'The loneliest place in rock' is how my friend Jack, an accomplished drummer, describes sitting behind the kit. 'On a drum stool, hunched with blistered fingers and aching joints. Waiting. Waiting for the guitars and vocals to agree on something that will only work if you lock in…' he says. Jack points out that most bands are formed by singers and guitar players who then look for bass players and drummers. This means that drummers are seen as supplementary rather than integral, and therefore replaceable. The truth, though, is very different, as his 'only work if you lock in' comment suggests. 'The beat will give a song a structure and a base on which to decide if it's worth pursuing further. Put another way, songs are written on an acoustic guitar or piano. It's only when the rhythm section gets beneath it that it starts to take shape. As a result, the band only starts to feel like a band when the drums are there too. Otherwise it's just busking,' Jack explains. Try telling that to the singer. Drummers are also fall guys because they're the loudest, I'd argue. The sound they make sticks out like a sore thumb and therefore it's the easiest and most obvious element to change, even if someone else is at fault. As Sting and Frank Zappa drummer Vinnie Colaiuta euphemistically put it: 'Anytime you strike the drums, you have to be aware that you're creating a musical event.' For 'musical event' read 'almighty noise'. Drumming is primal. 'When you approach this instrument for the first time, what comes out of you is simply what you feel,' the Parliament and Funkadelic drummer Dennis Chambers once said. Pick up a guitar for the first time and what you feel are sore fingers. But whack a drum for the first time and what you – and your neighbours – feel is elemental expression and thundering power, another likely reason why singers feel threatened. But the technical 'feel' that a drummer brings to a band can also be a reason for tension. Take Guns N' Roses as an example. Original drummer Adler – who was sacked for drug addiction after he tried and failed to play drums on Guns' track Civil War in the studio up to 30 times – had a loose, swinging style that formed a groove with Slash's guitar riffs. He was replaced by Matt Sorum from The Cult (a man whose battered drumstick has sat on my desk for decades, after I caught it at the end of a concert in 1989). A technically-brilliant drummer, Sorum's harder and more disciplined drumming essentially turned Guns N' Roses from a rock 'n' roll band into a heavy metal band, something that contributed to guitarist Izzy Stradlin's decision to leave in 1991. A 'big musical difference' was how Stradlin described the vibe shift. Recent tour footage suggests Guns N' Roses still have drummer issues. Introducing new drummer Isaac Carpenter recently, singer Axl Rose said: 'We've got a new guy. I'll think of his name in a minute.' Yeah, joking-not-joking. And at a Yokohama concert earlier this month, rookie Carpenter started playing the wrong song, leading to on-stage weirdness. 'Welcome to the bungle,' ran an unfair headline. But drummers have always been the butt of jokes. Here are two favourites. Q: How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: Five. One to change the lightbulb and four to stand around talking about how Neil Peart would have done it. Or there's this chestnut. Q: What did the drummer say when he landed his first job? A: Do you want fries with that? Of course, the biggest drummer joke of all appeared in the 1984 Spinal Tap mockumentary. Famously, the spoof metal band lost a succession of drummers: one in 'a bizarre gardening accident' (John 'Stumpy' Pepys); another from choking on vomit (Eric 'Stumpy Joe' Childs); and yet another from spontaneously combusting on stage (James 'Peter' Bond). Expect drummer jokes to continue when the film's sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues comes out in September. Like all jokes, there's a kernel of truth in this. Plenty of famous drummers have died tragically young. The two best-known examples are The Who's Keith Moon and Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, both of whom died aged 32 when their bands were going concerns. Moon died from a prescription drug overdose and Bonham died after a massive drinking session saw him consume an estimated 40 shots of vodka in a 12-hour period. Both men were large-than-life characters. Wildman Moon was fabled to have driven a Lincoln Continental into a Michigan hotel swimming pool while Bonham – known as The Beast – had a habit of trashing hotel rooms when he wasn't driving down their corridors on a Harley Davidson. To the 'drummers die young' list you can add Karen Carpenter (who also died aged 32), Rainbow's Cozy Powell (50), and Echo & the Bunnymen's Pete de Freitas (27). It is entirely possible that Moon and Bonham died before they were fired. I doubt it with Bonham as Zeppelin disbanded after he passed away. But we'll simply never know. In many cases, bad behaviour is the reason behind drummers being axed. Bruce Springsteen's erstwhile drummer Vini 'Mad Dog' Lopez was sacked from the E Street Band in the early 1970s for getting into a fight with the band's road manager Steve Appel. Blink-182's Scott Raynor was kicked out of the US punk outfit for things 'going on' outside of the band that were 'affecting his performances', singer Mark Hoppus told Rolling Stone (some stories blamed drinking). And the late James Kottak was fired in 2016 as drummer of German hard rock band Scorpions two years after his arrest and brief imprisonment for public drunkenness in Dubai. But here's the rub. Beneath the bluster and the tomfoolery, drummers tend to be sensitive souls who are obsessed with their craft, Moon and Bonham included. Why else would they choose to play the most unwieldy and physically-demanding instrument in existence? Unlike peacocking guitarists, you can't stroll down the high street with a drum kit on your back. You've got to commit to drumming and all the humping of gear that comes with it. Drummers also tend to have interesting hinterlands. Many notable drummers have gone on to have unexpected second careers after they'd quit music, which speaks to a certain eccentricity. Terry Chimes, one-time drummer with The Clash, became a chiropractor. Neal Smith, Alice Cooper's drummer, became an estate agent and Ray Boulter, drummer for Madchester band The Farm, became a hugely successful TV script writer. Stuart Cable, the late Stereophonics drummer, had a chat show on BBC Wales called, ingeniously, Cable TV. Mainly, though, drumming is a club. There's a rare brotherhood and understanding among drummers. When I interviewed Pete Best in 2018, probably the most famous sacked drummer in the world said that he and Ringo were chums before he was usurped. 'Drummers seem to buddy other drummers. I'd watch him play, he'd watch me play,' Best said. Simon Kirke, the Bad Company and Free drummer, had a similar tale of drumming camaraderie when I spoke to him last year. The date was 1974 and the location was Chislehurst Caves in Kent where Led Zeppelin were hosting one of the most debauched and Fellini-esque rock 'n' roll parties of all time. Scantily-clad nuns were serving mulled wine, naked women were wrestling in coffins filled with jelly, naked men were wrestling in alcoves and midgets were tumbling from each other's shoulders. And where was Kirke as this decadent carnival unfolded? He was 'huddled in a corner' with Zeppelin's Bonham talking about 'bass drum pedals, skins and sticks'.
