Leaving Nine Inch Nails in 2008

In a heartfelt social media post, Freese explained that his decision to leave Nine Inch Nails was one of the hardest of his career. At the time, he and his wife were expecting their third child, and Freese knew he needed to prioritize family over life on the road. Despite his love for the band, he had to step away in order to be there for his growing family.

"Leaving Nine Inch Nails at the end of 2008 was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make," Freese shared. "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."

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The Impact of Nine Inch Nails

Freese went on to describe the deep sense of pride and satisfaction he felt playing with Nine Inch Nails, noting the intense energy of each performance. "Nine Inch Nails was a band that left me walking off stage every single night thinking, ‘That was incredible. We absolutely crushed it.’ That level of intensity, pride, and satisfaction after each show is something I've rarely experienced anywhere," he recalled.

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Returning to the Band

Now, with his return to the band for their upcoming tour, Freese expressed his excitement about reconnecting with Trent Reznor and the crew. "To be 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," Freese said. "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."

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A Changing Lineup

The announcement comes after a surprising swap between the drummers of Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails. Josh Freese, who was let go by Foo Fighters for reasons still unclear, was replaced by Ilan Rubin, who has been Nine Inch Nails’ touring drummer since 2009. Fans can now look forward to an exciting new chapter for both bands, with Freese bringing his energy and experience back to Nine Inch Nails on tour.

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