Nine Inch Nails have revealed that Lostprophets Ilan Rubin will replace Josh Freese as their new drummer.

Frontman Trent Reznor said he had been amazed when he saw Rubin “playing his ass off” at the Reading and Leeds festivals in 2006.

“We recently invited him out to rehearse with us and he blew US away — the perfect guy to pick up the sticks after Josh leaves us at the end of the year."

Reznor announced that Freese would be leaving the band following their current US tour last month.

He said Freese, who joined the group in late 2005, had expressed a desire to leave but insisted that they will remain “dear friends.”

At present, Rubin, who announced details of his own solo project last week, is expected to remain a member of Lostprophets.

(by Jason Gregory)