Brent Hinds Dead: Mastodon Guitarist Dies in Motorcycle Crash
Brent Hinds, Mastodon Guitarist, Dies at 51
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brent Hinds, the former singer and guitarist for the critically acclaimed and Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon, has died in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia.He was 51 years old.
According to a statement from the Atlanta Police department, Hinds was fatally injured late Wednesday night while riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The accident occurred when a driver in a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn, resulting in a collision. Hinds was reportedly unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead shortly after.
An autopsy confirmed that William Hinds, as he was legally known, died consequently of “multiple blunt force injuries.”
A Legacy of Innovation with Mastodon
Mastodon, co-founded by Hinds in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor, quickly rose to prominence for its unique blend of ferocious metal, progressive elements, and sludge-rock influences. The band’s sound, often characterized by complex arrangements and conceptual themes, garnered a dedicated following and critical acclaim.
their breakthrough came with the 2006 album Blood Mountain, which peaked at no.32 on the Billboard 200, marking their first entry into the top 40.Mastodon continued its success with Once More ’round the Sun (2014) and Emperor of Sand (2017), both of which topped the rock album charts. Emperor of Sand also earned the band a Grammy Award in 2017 for Best Metal Performance for the song “Sultan’s Curse.” Mastodon received six Grammy nominations throughout their career.
The Hunter,released in 2011,was lauded by Rolling stone magazine as a streamlined yet complex work, showcasing the band’s signature “molten thrash” and “innate weirdness.”
Recent Departure and Future Plans
Hinds departed from Mastodon in March 2025,with the band stating the decision was mutual. However, subsequent posts on Hinds’ Instagram account suggested a more complex relationship with his former bandmates. At the time of his death, Hinds was preparing to tour Europe with fiend Without a Face, a band that originated as a side project during his time with Mastodon.
Mastodon’s Chart Performance
| Album title | Year | Billboard 200 Peak | Rock Album Chart Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Mountain | 2006 | 32 | – |
| Once More ’round the Sun | 2014 | 6 | 1 |
| Emperor of Sand | 2017 | 7 | 1 |