Ilan Rubin of The New Regime. Photo Credit: Tamar Levine
According to Variety.com, Foo Fighters have hired drummer Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Angels & Airwaves, Paramore) to take over the drumming duties since they fired Josh Freese this spring. A source confirmed to Variety that Rubin, who has been a touring member of Nine Inch Nails since 2009, will step in for Freese as the band’s drummer, as first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. It’s unclear if his role will be permanent or just for touring, as the band has shows starting in October in Jakarta, Singapore and Mexico City Rubin and his wife are expecting a child any day now, and the FF gig will require less touring in the meantime Nine Inch Nails reunited with Freese, yesterday, after being fired this spring by Foo Fighters.
In an unusual twist, Freese will step in for Rubin as the touring drummer for Nine Inch Nails’ upcoming “Peel It Back” tour, Variety has confirmed. Freese became a permanent drummer for Nine Inch Nails in 2005 and remained with the group until 2008. Rubin had initially been slated to be part of the “Peel It Back” tour, but reportedly informed frontman Trent Reznor that he had accepted a job with another band, per THR. Nine Inch Nails appeared to confirm Freese’s appointment with a post on X.
Rubin has been a consistent force as a drummer over the years, playing with Nine Inch Nails, Angels & Airwaves and Paramore. As a member of Nine Inch Nails, he became the youngest-ever inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.