In the world of rock and metal music, it is an intriguing and relatively uncommon occurrence for bands to actually exchange musicians. This phenomenon has grabbed headlines on rare occasions, showcasing the dynamic nature of the industry.

A notable recent example is when it was revealed that Josh Freese made his return to Nine Inch Nails, while in an unexpected twist, longtime drummer Ilan Rubin departed to join Foo Fighters. This surprising turn of events essentially created a unique drummer swap between the two influential bands. Earlier this year, Freese was unceremoniously let go from the Foo Fighters, leading to speculation about his future. Interestingly, both announcements regarding Freese and Rubin were made on the same night, leaving fans buzzing with curiosity.

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While this unique situation may seem bizarre, it is not the first instance of musicians switching bands. Although such exchanges are infrequent, we have uncovered several other notable examples of this unusual “Freaky Friday” scenario. There have been occasions where these swaps were intended to be permanent, while others served merely as temporary measures to address lineup changes.

To provide context for these exchanges, we will delve deeper into the backgrounds of Freese and Rubin. This will help clarify what defines a true artist swap. Following that, we will explore additional instances where this fascinating occurrence has taken place throughout rock and metal history.