Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl opened up about the band’s live show and its newest member, addressing how the group builds its set list each night, according to a report from The New York Times.
Grohl explained the band’s approach to introducing each member during shows, describing it as a way to spotlight the diverse musical backgrounds within Foo Fighters. He also praised new drummer Ilan Rubin, who joined the band earlier this year following Josh Freese’s sudden departure.
“There needs to be a little levity,” Dave Grohl said. “So I thought this time around that it would be fun, almost like a potluck dinner, if everybody brings something to the party from a band they were in before.”
Grohl went on to detail how each band member’s past projects factor into the live show.
“Chris [Shiflett, the guitarist] has been in multiple bands, and he picked No Use for a Name,” Grohl continued. “Nate [Mendel, the bassist], of course, has Sunny Day Real Estate. The craziest one is Rami [Jaffee, the keyboardist]. That Wallflowers song, ‘One Headlight’? I mean, it’s a great song. But I always thought, ‘Wow, I wonder if there’s any sort of crossover with our audience.’ Oh my God. People go bonkers. And for Pat, obviously, it’s the Germs.”
Grohl then turned to Rubin, sharing his assessment of the drummer’s skill and the initial uncertainty around his contribution to the show.
“With Ilan [Rubin, the band’s new drummer], he didn’t necessarily think anything he had done would work,” Grohl said. “I think he’s the best rock drummer in the world. I truly do. He’s just so effortlessly powerful, his swing and his feel. But he’s also a shredding guitar player. And so I was like, ‘You should do a guitar solo, and I’ll jump on the drums.'”
Rubin spent 17 years behind the kit for Nine Inch Nails and became the band’s longest-serving drummer. He has also been a member of Angels & Airwaves and fronts his solo project, The New Regime, where he writes and performs every instrument himself.
Josh Freese announced his departure from Foo Fighters in May 2025, saying the band had decided “to go in a different direction with their drummer.” He later rejoined Nine Inch Nails, with Rubin taking his place in Foo Fighters.
Rubin’s move from Nine Inch Nails to Foo Fighters closed one chapter while opening another. Grohl’s comments make clear the band views the transition as a creative boost rather than a simple lineup change.
