Former Mastodon Guitarist Brent Hinds Dies at 51 in Motorcycle Crash

Brent Hinds, the revered heavy metal guitarist and founding member of Mastodon, tragically lost his life on Wednesday, August 20, in Atlanta following a catastrophic motorcycle collision. He was 51 years old.

Mastodon’s management confirmed the heartbreaking news to Billboard on Thursday, August 21. In an Instagram statement the band confessed, “We are engulfed in profound sorrow … last night, Brent Hinds passed away due to an unfortunate accident.”

They added, “Our hearts are shattered; we remain in disbelief as we come to terms with the loss of this visionary artist, with whom we’ve celebrated countless triumphs and milestones and created music that resonated deeply with fans worldwide. Our thoughts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. We kindly ask for privacy for everyone affected during this difficult period.”

An official Atlanta Police report provided further details. According to the document, officers on scene discovered an unresponsive Harley-Davidson rider—presumed to be Hinds—after a BMW SUV allegedly failed to yield, striking the motorcyclist while turning left at an intersection. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the site. The investigation remains active.

Hinds co-founded Mastodon in Georgia’s capital in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor. Over the next 25 years, the band released multiple albums—nine of which charted on the Billboard 200—before announcing in March that Hinds would be departing the group.

Friends and fans, after 25 extraordinary years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually chosen to part ways. We are immensely proud of and thankful for the music and memories we’ve forged, and we wish Brent all the success and happiness in his future ventures. We remain committed to our 2025 tour dates and look forward to seeing you on the road.

However, in mid-August, Hinds publicly contested the announcement via an Instagram comment under one of the band’s performance videos, stating, “Embarrassing—they expelled me for embarrassing them by being true to myself.”

Among the band’s nine Billboard 200 entries, 2011’s The Hunter, 2014’s One More ‘Round the Sun, and 2017’s Emperor of Sand all reached the top ten, with the latter two topping the Top Rock Albums chart. In 2018, Mastodon earned a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for “Sultan’s Curse.”

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