Brent Hinds, the larger-than-life co-founder of Mastodon, has died. The legendary guitarist was killed in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia, on the night of August 20. He was 51 years old.
Fans woke up this morning (August 21) to a wave of disbelief. Rumors first began circulating on Reddit after TOOL’s Adam Jones posted an Instagram story featuring an old photo of Hinds, soundtracked by Brian Eno’s “Silence.” Not long after, Atlanta Police reports confirmed a fatal collision involving a Harley Davidson and a BMW SUV. Today, the Fulton County Examiner verified that the rider was Brent Hinds.
According to early details, the SUV failed to yield while turning into an intersection, colliding with Hinds’ motorcycle. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but he was unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the scene.
This devastating news follows Hinds’ departure from Mastodon earlier this year. Guitarist Bill Kelliher admitted at the time that splitting with his longtime bandmate had been tough, though he reflected on their journey as a “fun, wild fucking ride.” For his part, Hinds described his exit less fondly, writing on Instagram that he’d been forced out for “embarrassing them for being who I am.”
Born in Atlanta in 1974, Brent’s first brush with heavy music came in the mid-’90s with Four Hour Fogger, alongside future Mastodon bandmate Troy Sanders. The stars aligned in the early 2000s when the pair linked up with Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher after a High on Fire basement gig. The rest is history — Mastodon was born, and heavy music was never the same.
Across eight albums and 25 years, Hinds left an indelible mark: from the oceanic depths of Leviathan (2004), to the astral journeys of Crack the Skye (2009), to the Grammy-winning Emperor of Sand (2017). His final contribution came on 2021’s sprawling Hushed and Grim. His southern-fried riffs, off-kilter solos, and unapologetic presence on stage helped define a band that stood at the forefront of modern metal.
This is a developing story, and the metal community is still reeling. One thing is certain: Brent Hinds was a true original, and his loss leaves a massive hole in heavy music. Raise a glass, spin Leviathan, and remember the wild ride he gave us.
