Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist of the renowned heavy metal group Mastodon, tragically lost his life in Atlanta overnight.
According to the police, Hinds, who was 51 years old, met his demise late on Wednesday when his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV. The driver of the SUV did not yield while making a turn, leading to the fatal incident that occurred around 11:35 pm.
The Fulton county medical examiner’s office confirmed Hinds’ death shortly after the incident.
Mastodon, the band Hinds co-founded in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor, expressed their profound grief in a statement posted on Instagram. They described being in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief” following the loss of their creative partner, with whom they had achieved numerous triumphs, milestones, and produced music that resonated with so many. The band requested respect for everyone’s privacy during this challenging time.
Although Billboard reported earlier this year that Mastodon and Hinds had mutually decided to part ways, Hinds disputed this account, stating that he was forced out and referred to his former bandmates as “horrible humans.”
Mastodon’s debut album, Remission, was released in 2002 and quickly captivated heavy metal fans with its hardcore sound that blended prog-rock, alternative, and grunge among other styles. Their following record, Leviathan, further propelled the group to mainstream metal music. Despite their heavy metal influences, Hinds always envisioned Mastodon as more classic rock, aiming for a heavy, psychedelic direction rather than a screaming, lumbering, drum-solo-focused band.
Hinds also had a brief stint in television when he, along with his former band members, made a cameo appearance on the popular HBO series Game of Thrones as “wildings” in its fifth season.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/21/brent-hinds-mastodon-dies-motorcycle-crash
