After weeks of fan speculation, the Foo Fighters have reportedly found their new drummer in Nine Inch Nails’ Ilan Rubin, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While the band has yet to issue a formal confirmation, sources close to the matter say Rubin has accepted the gig and already informed NIN frontman Trent Reznor of his decision. A representative for the Foo Fighters declined to comment on the news, and it’s still unclear whether Rubin is stepping in as a full-time member or as a touring drummer.
Rubin, whose career spans projects like Angels & Airwaves, Danny Elfman, and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction with Nine Inch Nails at just 32 years old, now appears set to join Dave Grohl and company as they prepare for a run of international shows beginning this October. He notably drummed on Paramore’s 2013 self-titled record and has long been regarded for his versatility behind the kit.
This lineup change comes on the heels of Josh Freese’s sudden exit from the Foo Fighters in May. Freese, who joined the band in 2023 following the tragic passing of longtime drummer Taylor Hawkins, said he was “shocked” and “disappointed” by the decision. “The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer’,” Freese wrote on Instagram. “No reason was given. Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage and I support whatever they feel is best for the band.”
Freese has since landed back in familiar territory—Nine Inch Nails—marking his second stint with the band after having served as their drummer from 2005 to 2008, before Rubin succeeded him. NIN confirmed his return with an Instagram story featuring his photo and the caption “Let’s fucking GO.”
“Leaving Nine Inch Nails at the end of 2008 was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Freese reflected. “My wife and I were expecting our third child, and I knew I needed to step away from life on the road to be home with my family. NIN was a band that left me walking off stage every night, thinking ‘That was incredible. We absolutely crushed it.’ And it wasn’t just a feeling, it was a certainty. That level of intensity, pride and satisfaction after each show is something I’ve rarely experienced anywhere else.”
“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. 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. Hope to see you out there,” said Freese.
The drummer reshuffle comes just before NIN kicks off the North American leg of their Peel It Back Tour on August 6 in Oakland, following a 15-date run in Europe. Meanwhile, Foo Fighters are set to return to the stage in October with shows in Jakarta, Singapore, Tokyo, and Osaka, followed by a November concert in Mexico City.
The band recently dropped “Today’s Song” to celebrate their 30th anniversary, along with a heartfelt letter from Grohl to fans. “You are still in everything we do, everywhere we go, forever,” Grohl wrote in tribute to Hawkins. He also acknowledged Freese’s contributions: “Without the thunderous wizardry of Josh Freese, this story would be incomplete.”
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