Brent Hinds, Mastodon Guitarist, Dies in Atlanta Motorcycle Crash
Hey, I need to tell you about some really sad news that’s been making headlines. Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Mastodon, has tragically passed away. He was just 51 years old. This happened in Atlanta on the night of August 20, when he was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Police reports say a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Boulevard, and the collision proved fatal. The Fulton County medical examiner’s office has since confirmed his death.
Brent Hinds, whose full name was William Brent Hinds, was born in Helena, Alabama. From an early age, he showed an incredible musical talent, beginning with the banjo. That early training actually shaped his unique guitar style later on, giving him the hybrid picking technique and fluid, fast runs that would define his sound. He moved to Atlanta in the late ’90s to pursue a career in music and eventually connected with bassist Troy Sanders. Hinds and Sanders initially played together in a band called Four Hour Fogger. After that group dissolved, they met drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher, and together they formed Mastodon in 2000.
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Originally, Mastodon had another singer, Eric Saner, who left the band in 2001. That’s when Hinds took on the dual role of lead guitarist and co-vocalist, and his gruff yet expressive voice quickly became a hallmark of the band. Over the years, Mastodon released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including Leviathan in 2004 and Crack the Skye in 2009. Hinds’ innovative guitar work and songwriting were central to the band’s sound, blending sludge metal, progressive elements, and even hints of Southern rock. He contributed to all eight of Mastodon’s studio albums, including their last, Hushed and Grim , in 2021.
Things had reportedly soured between Hinds and the rest of the band in recent years. Earlier this year, Mastodon announced that they had “mutually decided to part ways” with him, though Hinds publicly said he was kicked out. Despite that, he continued to perform and stayed musically active, playing shows around Atlanta and touring in Europe with blues musician Marcus King just this summer.
Brent Hinds was admired not just for his technical skill but for the creativity and energy he brought to every project he touched, including side projects like Fiend Without a Face, West End Motel, and the supergroup Giraffe Tongue Orchestra. His contributions to metal and progressive music were widely recognized, and his loss is deeply felt by fans and fellow musicians alike.
It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life can be. Brent Hinds’ legacy will live on through his music, which continues to inspire guitarists and metal fans around the world. Rest in peace, Brent. Your riffs and voice will not be forgotten.
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