Josh Freese announced his joining Nine Inch Nails after being dismissed from Foo Fighters. He performed his first concert with the group, as captured in fan footage from the band’s Oakland, CA show.
The performance marked Freese’s return to Nine Inch Nails after a 17-year absence. Fans expressed strong approval of his drumming style and precision.
“Ilan Ruben is a phenomenal player, but IMO Josh is powerful and more precision than Ilan,” one Nine Inch Nails fan commented. “Couldn’t be happy that he’s back in the band!”
Fans drew comparisons between Freese and the band’s previous drummer. They highlighted different musical approaches.
“I just listened to Ilan’s drumming for this song to compare to Josh’ version,” another fan said. “Josh is clearly the more precise and more skilled drummer and it’s no contest. Ilan sounds like a 70s rock drummer, flat and one dimensional… Freese sounds like a very complex drum machine while being musical, with clarity and precision that pierces.”
Other fans appreciated both drummers’ distinct styles.
“Fascinating! Ilan played bombastically and Josh plays it precisely,” another fan wrote. “Equally awesome. Different flavors from two expert drummers.”
The performance took place on August 6, 2025. It marked the first public performance of “The Perfect Drug” with Freese on drums.
Freese’s return to Nine Inch Nails represents a full-circle moment in his extensive musical career. He brings decades of experience back to the band he previously served.
NIN Wiki reported that Freese originally joined Nine Inch Nails in 2005 during the Live: With Teeth tour. He replaced previous drummers during that period. He left in 2008 to spend more time with his family. He was welcomed back this year amid lineup changes when Ilan Rubin departed to join Foo Fighters.
The drummer swap between the two major rock acts created an unusual situation in the music industry. Kerrang! noted that Nine Inch Nails and Foo Fighters have seemingly swapped drummers. Josh Freese and Ilan Rubin effectively traded places between the two bands.
Freese brings an impressive resume to his Nine Inch Nails return. Wikipedia documented that he is known as one of the most prolific session drummers. He started playing professionally at age 15 and contributed to hundreds of albums across different genres.
The veteran drummer currently resides in southern California with his wife and four children. He balances his high-profile musical career with family life. His return to Nine Inch Nails marks another significant chapter in a career that has spanned multiple decades and countless recording sessions with major artists across various musical styles.
