Foo Fighters & Nine Inch Nails Swap Drummers

Two months after parting ways with Josh Freese, Foo Fighters have unveiled Ilan Rubin as their new drummer, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Rubin is jumping ship after a 16-year stint with Nine Inch Nails, for whom the prospect of an imminent, drummerless tour ran into a convenient solution: They hired Josh Freese. It is unclear whether Rubin is permanently aboard with Foo Fighters or just a touring member.

Though Foo Fighters are yet to formally acknowledge their hire, Nine Inch Nails posted an Instagram story picturing Freese—who was also their drummer between 2005 and 2008—with the caption, “Let’s fucking go.” They kick off a North American tour at Oakland Arena on August 6; Foo Fighters’ next dates are a tour of Asia in October.

Rubin had been touring with Nine Inch Nails since 2009, a tenure that encompassed the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2020, in which he was included. He has also drummed for Paramore, Angels & Airwaves, and Danny Elfman, among others. According to a Hollywood Reporter source, Rubin had committed to Nine Inch Nails through the year but told Trent Reznor last week that he had “accepted a job with another band.”