14 Drummers Who Could Replace Josh Freese in the Foo Fighters
Matt Cameron
In 2023, rumors surfaced that Matt Cameron , of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden , was rehearsing for a tour with the Foo Fighters after The Sun published an article on the subject. Cameron and Hawkins had a long-standing friendship, but the drummer quickly denied the rumors on social media.
However, two years have passed since then, and Pearl Jam only has one more show scheduled for 2025 at the moment. It wouldn't be the first time Cameron has juggled playing with Pearl Jam and another band simultaneously.
Atom Willard
Like Matt Cameron, Atom Willard has also been mentioned as a possible new drummer for the Foo Fighters in 2023, according to speculation in The Sun newspaper. Willard has previously played in bands such as Rocket From the Crypt , The Offspring , Angels & Airwaves , Against Me!, and Alkaline Trio .
Apparently, he also had a long-standing friendship with Hawkins, dating back to the 90s.
Shane Hawkings
Shane Hawkins, son of the late Taylor Hawkins, has performed several times with the Foo Fighters in the years following his father's death. In May 2025, he was announced as the new drummer for Chevy Metal , another musical project of his father, dedicated to covers of rock classics.
Frank Ferrer
Frank Ferrer was the drummer for Guns N' Roses for almost twenty years. He joined the band before the release of Chinese Democracy and left the group in March 2025.
In a personal statement regarding his departure , Ferrer wrote: “Hope to see you all soon!”. Could this mean on stage with the Foo Fighters? Interestingly, Freese (the current Foo Fighters drummer) also played in GN'R in the late 90s, which would make the situation even more interesting if they did indeed switch places.
Kris Myers
Kris Myers rose to fame as the drummer for the jam rock band Umphrey's McGee for over twenty years – but announced his departure from the group in May 2025. Although his style has roots in jazz, he is widely praised by the band's fans for his impressive technique.
"Although I'm leaving behind an incredible journey with my longtime brothers, know that I will continue performing and I hope to see you in this new phase," he wrote in a social media post .
The timing might just be a coincidence, but joining the Foo Fighters would certainly be a good reason to leave a band he'd been a part of since the 2000s.
Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk is the powerful drummer behind the work of Rage Against the Machine , Audioslave , and Prophets of Rage . Although RATM reunited in 2022, there are no plans for a new tour by the band. He also participated in the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows along with the lineup.
Matt Chamberlain
Matt Chamberlain is a renowned studio musician, but early in his career he had a brief stint with Pearl Jam . Since then, he has played with big names such as David Bowie , Elton John , The Wallflowers , Garbage , and many others.
In 2014, he replaced Matt Cameron on Soundgarden's tour, showing that he would be a great fit for the Foo Fighters as well.
Chad Smith
Sure, Chad Smith is already part of another giant rock band, but whenever the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't on tour, he'd be a great addition to the Foo Fighters. He was a close friend of Taylor Hawkins, participated in the tribute shows for the late drummer last year, and has collaborated with numerous artists—both in the studio and live—including Ozzy Osbourne and various musicians from other genres.
Jack Irons
If you're noticing a pattern in this list, it's no coincidence. Jack Irons is one of the founding members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and also had a significant stint with Pearl Jam, in addition to collaborating with several other bands. His drumming style would fit perfectly with the Foo Fighters.
Meg White
Meg White , of The White Stripes , was the target of unfair criticism from a journalist in March, prompting several rock musicians to come to her defense. But Dave Grohl has admired her talent for years – in 2018, he even told Rolling Stone that she was one of his favorite drummers.
“She’s one of those drummers that, if you hear 15 seconds of a recording, you already know who it is. For me, that’s always been the standard of excellence. That’s always been the challenge: you want to recognize her instantly. Like: ‘Oh, that’s John Bonham . Oh, that’s Charlie Watts . That’s Ringo . That’s Stewart Copeland . That’s Meg White.’ And that’s not easy. It means you play with your soul. No, she’s incredible, man,” Grohl praised.
That statement alone would be reason enough for her to fit perfectly into the Foo Fighters.
Stephen Perkins
Known for his work in Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros (bands currently on hiatus), Stephen Perkins could be an option for the Foo Fighters. After all, as Dave Navarro stated in May 2025 : "Jane's Addiction will never reunite"—which would leave Perkins free for new projects.
Rufus Tiger Taylor
With the musical DNA of his father Roger Taylor ( Queen ), Rufus Tiger Taylor was born to be a drummer. The current member of The Darkness , who participated in the Foo Fighters' tributes to Taylor Hawkins, described to Music Radar the emotional weight of this moment:
“I must have been about 6 years old when I met Hawkins. My dad introduced me as 'his best friend'. It was love at first sight – the coolest guy in the world! He always treated me super well. We just clicked right away, and over time it became bizarre how similar we were (especially since I idolized him), but in the end we were almost like twins,” she said.
Even admitting to feeling nervous about playing with the Foo Fighters, Taylor showed he has the skill to handle the role.
Josh Klinghoffer
Another musician with ties to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, Josh Klinghoffer is a talented multi-instrumentalist who masters several instruments in his own work. During the 2022 tour with Pearl Jam as a guitarist, he even took over on drums at some shows when Matt Cameron contracted COVID-19 and had to sit out.
Besides his versatility, Klinghoffer has a special connection with the Foo Fighters. In an interview , he revealed that in the 90s he even played bass in place of Nate Mendel during a soundcheck for the band. It was during this time that he formed a friendship with Taylor Hawkins, when they were both on tour together.
Dave Krusen
The distinctive beat of Pearl Jam's acclaimed debut album, Ten , was the work of Dave Krusen . After his time with the band, the drummer joined Candlebox and other groups. He also collaborated with the Foo Fighters, notably participating in their 2015 show in Argentina, when the band performed a cover of the Rolling Stones .
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