Former Mastodon Guitarist Brent Hinds Dead at 51
Former Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has passed away following a tragic motorcycle accident. He was 51 years old. – Author: Charles Ken, Photo from Audio Ink Radio
First, the heavy metal community had to deal with the sad passing of Ozzy Osbourne in July, just a few weeks after his final performance with Black Sabbath. Now, the metal world has lost another one of its own.
Former Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, who was also one of the founding members of the band, has passed away at 51 years old. The news came as a shock, and it sadly broke on Thursday, August 21, after the release of a report from Atlanta police, where he resided.
According to the Atlanta police report, a male riding a Harley Davidson was killed in a crash when a driver of a BMW SUV didn’t yield while making a turn at an intersection. The Fulton County medical examiner’s office has also confirmed that Hinds was the driver of the motorcycle.
Mastodon shared the sad news on social media and confirmed that Hinds had sadly passed away. “We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief,” they noted on Instagram. “Last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident.”
They continued, “We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many.”
Mastodon added, “Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time. RIP Brent.”
The Story of Brent Hinds and Mastodon
Hinds was one of the founding members of Mastodon and helped put together the influential metal group in 2000. He was with the band for most of its time together, up until March of this year, when Mastodon announced they they were partying ways with Hinds.
“After 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways,” they said on social media at the time. “We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors.”
Even after Hinds and Mastodon went their separate ways, Hinds was active in the music scene and played shows in his hometown of Atlanta.
In a 2011 interview with Invisible Oranges, Hinds talked about the difference between Mastodon being on an independent label and when they made it to the big labels.
“I gotta say working with the majors is easier. You get a lot more respect,” he said in the chat. “Working with the indies just reminds me why I never worked with the indies in the first place. There’s a lot of procrastinating going on. There’s a lot of one person saying they’re going to do something, and they never do it.”
He added, “That never happens in the professional world, because that’s what those people do for a living. In the indies, all those people have side jobs except the label CEOs or whatever. I’m not mentioning any label’s name. I’m just saying these are my experiences.”
Our hearts and prayers go out to Hinds and his family during this difficult time. He truly gave so much to the heavy metal genre and will be missed.
- Former Mastodon Guitarist Brent Hinds Dead at 51 - August 21, 2025
- Megadeth Reveals ‘Hardest Part’ of Band’s Retirement News - August 14, 2025
- Sharon Osbourne Sets the Record Straight on Black Sabbath Show - August 8, 2025
Related Posts
- Metal Legends Part With Band Member After 25 Years
- Mastodon Drummer Announces Timeline for New Album
- Mastodon and Lamb of God Release Sludgy ‘Floods of Triton’
- The Story Behind Mastodon Getting Their Band Name
- Mastodon and Lamb of God Deliver in Detroit – Concert Review
