The Foo Fighters revealed its new drummer more than a year after the death of Taylor Hawkins.
On May 21, the band posted a streaming event on its official Twitter page. It showed the band jamming together with its new drummer, Josh Freese.
In the viral video titled, “Foo Fighters: Preparing Music for Concerts,” the band performed its new song “Under You,” according to the “Today” show.
Fans on Twitter commented on the video and welcomed Freese with open arms.
Thanks for joining us. It will be streaming on @Veeps for 72 hours on demand if you missed it: https://t.co/hzz5G9mOKy
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) May 21, 2023
We'll see you all soon. pic.twitter.com/c7NATC6lzD
“Absolutely phenomenal. Josh Freese is a beast on drums. I, like millions of others, have wondered how things would play out after Taylor’s passing,” one user wrote.
Continuing, he wrote, “He would be so proud of how FF has handled things. Thank you [Josh Freese] for your talent and stepping up to the plate.”
Another user called the performance “brilliant.”
“I laughed, I cried and I sang my heart out with you. Way to go Josh! Loved every second of this and cannot wait for the UK tour dates to be announced when we can do it all again together,” she added.
One user said the video was a “beautiful introduction to Josh” and also acknowledged the big shoes he had to fill.
“If it was hard to fit in your shoes/beats and then put your own spin on it then Taylor did it. Josh, I don’t envy you after two big boots but you did make it your own tonight. Thankyou (sic) Foo’s for tonight,” she wrote.
On March 25, 2022, Hawkin was found dead in Colombia, where the band was scheduled to perform, per NPR. According to a toxicology report released by Colombia’s attorney general’s office, the medical examiner found evidence of several substances in his body. He was 50 years old.
The Foo Fighters confirmed his death in a statement on its Twitter page. The band referred to it as a “tragic and untimely loss.”
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time,” the band wrote.
