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Mastodon Co-founding guitarist Brent Hinds dead at 51

Co-founding Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds dead at 51

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919motorsports

Brent Hinds, co-founder, guitarist, and vocalist of the heavy metal powerhouse Mastodon, died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 51. The crash happened when his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV at Memorial Drive and Boulevard SE, according to Atlanta police.

Hind’s death marks the end of an era for one of the most inventive bands to emerge from the American metal underground. With his snarling riffs, Southern-fried twang, and unmistakable hybrid-picking style, Hinds helped steer Mastodon from Atlanta clubs to Grammy stages, reshaping the sound of heavy music along the way. Over a career that spanned more than two decades, he left behind not just a discography of critically acclaimed records but also an indelible influence on the generation of musicians who followed.

A Creative Force and Co-Founder

Back in 2000, four Atlanta musicians turned a basement dream into one of the most influential metal bands of their generation. Brent Hinds, alongside Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor, formed Mastodon. Together they built a career that stretched across 25 years, countless tours, and a string of albums that would define a genre.

Mastodon band members standing alongside Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Borat.
Mastodon featured alongside actor Sacha Baron Cohen

From the start, Hinds was a wild card, a creative engine with an instinct for pushing boundaries. His banjo-trained fingers gave Mastodon a sound that didn’t just crush but slithered and swung, cutting against the grain of traditional metal. Paired with Sanders’ growl, Kelliher’s precision, and Dailor’s dizzying drumming, Hinds helped sculpt a sound that was as heavy as it was intricate, a blend of sludge, prog, and Southern grit that became Mastodon’s signature.

Triumphs and Highlights

Mastodon’s journey reads like a roadmap of modern metal evolution.

  • Remission (2002): The debut that kicked the door down. Heavy, raw, and critically acclaimed.
  • Leviathan (2004): A concept record based on Moby-Dick, crowned Album of the Year by Kerrang! and Terrorizer.
  • Blood Mountain (2006): Broke new ground, scoring the band their first Grammy nomination for “Colony of Birchmen.”
  • Crack the Skye (2009): A cosmic, emotional ride that’s still a fan favorite.
  • The Hunter (2011): Cracked the Billboard Top 10, showing Mastodon could dominate both critics and charts.
  • Once More ’Round the Sun (2014): Another Billboard success, with “High Road” earning a Grammy nod.
  • Emperor of Sand (2017): A masterstroke — “Sultan’s Curse” took home Mastodon’s first Grammy, while “Show Yourself” became a modern rock staple.
Mastodon - Crack The Skye album.
Mastodon – Crack The Skye (As an Amazon affiliate, The Rocktone may earn a small commission through the purchase of items provided through links within this article. At no additional cost to you)

Through it all, Brent was there, guitar slung low, fueling Mastodon’s ferocious mix of sludge, prog, and Southern grit.

A Brief Parting: Recent Fallout Acknowledged

Of course, it wasn’t all harmony. Earlier this year, Mastodon announced Brent’s departure. Officially, it was framed as “creative differences” — guitarist Bill Kelliher even likened the split to a marriage drifting apart.

But Brent’s own words told a harsher story. In an Instagram post, he blasted his bandmates as “horrible humans.” We covered that messy breakup in detail in our recent piece, Brent Hinds vs. Mastodon: How a 25-Year Partnership Fell Apart.

And yet… when news of his death hit, the surviving members issued a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of their brother. Whatever wounds remained, the truth is undeniable: Mastodon wouldn’t exist without Brent Hinds.

Beyond Mastodon: Brent’s Musical Reach

While Mastodon was his main stage, Brent never kept his creativity caged. He poured his energy into projects like Fiend Without a Face, West End Motel, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and the cinematic Legend of the Seagullmen.

He also made guest appearances with artists as varied as Killswitch Engage, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and even lent his touch to film soundtracks like Jonah Hex.

Legacy That Lives On

The response to his passing has been immediate and emotional. Mastodon’s official statement called Brent a “creative force” and said they were in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief.”

Fans flooded social media with tributes, alongside fellow musicians:

As fans, we honor him best by cranking Leviathan, screaming along to Crack the Skye, and keeping his legacy alive one riff at a time.

Brent Hinds is gone, but his music still roars. And for that, we’re forever grateful.

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