Josh Freese Confirms Return To Nine Inch Nails, Replacing Ilan Rubin

Longtime drummer Josh Freese has officially confirmed his return to Nine Inch Nails, taking over the kit from Ilan Rubin in a twist that ties together the recent shakeups in both NIN and Foo Fighters.

Freese—known for his work with The Vandals, A Perfect Circle, and more—previously drummed for Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2008. His unexpected rejoining of the industrial metal legends was announced on July 30th.

Interestingly, Freese had publicly praised Rubin’s performance with the band just a few weeks ago. Now, with Rubin reportedly stepping into the Foo Fighters lineup—the same band that dismissed Freese this past May—the two drummers appear to have effectively swapped roles. Freese was let go from Foo Fighters after being told the band wanted “to go in a different direction with their drummer.” Notably, Rubin originally replaced Freese in Nine Inch Nails back in 2008.

In a personal statement shared on social media, Freese reflected on the full-circle moment:

“Leaving Nine Inch Nails at the end of 2008 was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. 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 single 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.

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.
—Josh”

Nine Inch Nails will hit the road beginning in early August for a full North American tour. Dates include:

08/06 Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
08/08 Portland, OR – Moda Center
08/10 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
08/12 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
08/14 West Valley City, UT – Maverik Center
08/15 Denver, CO – Ball Arena
08/17 Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
08/19 Chicago, IL – United Center
08/20 Chicago, IL – United Center
08/22 Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
08/23 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
08/26 Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena
08/27 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
08/29 Boston, MA – TD Garden
08/31 Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
09/02 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
09/03 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
09/05 Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
09/06 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
09/09 Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
09/10 Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
09/12 Houston, TX – Toyota Center
09/13 Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
09/16 Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
09/18 Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
09/19 Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum

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