Josh Freese
Josh FreeseJosh Freese (born December 25, 1972) is a long time drummer for Orange County punk outfit The Vandals and currently member of A Perfect Circle, as well as a professional studio drummer. Consistently rated as one of the "top two" drummers in the world by the American press, Josh Freese is considered by many to be among the best drummers in the world. He's been hailed "The Bruce Lee Of Drums" and was recently presented with the key to Los Angeles when the Mayor declared July 24th "Josh Freese Day" in Los Angeles.
Background
Josh Freese was born on Christmas Day, 1972 in Orlando, Florida but has lived in Southern California since he was 6 months old. Having been brought up in a musical family (father conducted the Disneyland Band and mother was a classical pianist) he was surrounded by music from an early age and began playing the drums around the time he was 7 or 8 years old. He started playing professionally at the age of 12 (in a Top 40 band at Disneyland) and starting touring and making records at the age of 15. First with Dweezil Zappa and then the Vandals. Currently still a member of the 'Vandals', 'Devo' and 'A Perfect Circle', Josh Freese has also worked with many respected artists in the last 10 years perpetually filling in as session drummer and sometimes as a temporary replacement.
Studio Musician
Aside from being a permanent member for A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, Josh Freese is primarily a professional studio drummer, appearing on more than 2,500 records, including but not limited to: Paul Westerberg, Chris Cornell, Suicidal Tendencies, Juliana Hatfield, Mike Ness, Tracy Bonham, and Guns N' Roses. (See ''Discography'' for a more current listing.)
Solo
In 1998, Freese went solo by recording a number of songs that he wrote and performed himself (including bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals) Resulting in the 6 song EP entitled Destroy The Earth As Soon As Possible, released under the name 'Princess' on T.O.N/Stone Lizard records.
In 2000, the songs 'Caffiene and Vaseline' and 'Rock N' Roll Chicken' were revived for the full length album 'The Notorious One Man Orgy', this time released under Freese's own name. Kung Fu Records contributed in the 2000 release of this 12-song album of straight pop-punk. With guest appearances by the likes of Stone Gossard, Warren Fitzgerald, Michael Ward, Lyle Workman, and Jason Freese, the N.O.M.O. offers a hard driving pop-punk musical insight into what it's like to be Josh Freese on a daily basis. Evidently it's not easy.
Current Bands
Aside from being an L.A. studio musician in which he calls his "day job", the whereabouts of Josh Freese are currently unknown. However, it has been recently announced that Josh will join Sting's "Broken Music Tour" in April 2005 with guitarist Dominic Miller and guitarist Shane Fontayne. The tour kicks off April 1 in San Jose, California and ends on April 30 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.