Brent Hinds, guitarist and founding member of the Grammy-winning metal band Mastodon, has died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta. He was 51.
Police said Hinds was riding his Harley-Davidson on Wednesday when it collided with a BMW SUV that failed to yield while making a turn. His death was later confirmed by the Fulton County medical examiner’s office.
Tributes Pour In
Mastodon posted a statement on Instagram describing their grief as “unfathomable.”
“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.”
Fellow musicians also paid tribute. Queens of the Stone Age wrote on X: “Rest in Peace Brent Hinds. With love & respect. See you on the other side old friend.”
Alice in Chains singer William DuVall said the news had “knocked the wind out of me.”
A Career That Shaped Modern Metal
Hinds formed Mastodon in Atlanta in 2000 with Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor. Together they pushed heavy music into new territory, blending progressive rock, sludge metal and grunge influences. Albums such as Leviathan, Crack the Skye and Emperor of Sand won international acclaim and earned the group a Grammy in 2018.
Fans also spotted the band in an unexpected cameo on HBO’s Game of Thrones, where they appeared as wildlings in the season five episode “Hardhome.”
A Complicated Exit
Hinds parted ways with Mastodon earlier this year. Reports suggested the split was mutual, though he later said he had been forced out. The band went on to perform at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell show in July without him.
Beyond Mastodon
Although best known as a metal guitarist, Hinds often described himself as a musician who resisted labels. Raised in Alabama, he began by playing banjo and classical guitar before moving into heavier music. He also explored other genres with projects such as Fiend Without a Face, West End Motel, and Legend of the Seagullmen.
In one interview, he recalled how his father made him learn the banjo before he would buy him a guitar: “I was learning all this hillbilly music with my uncle, and then I focused on being an awesome guitar player. My mom would come in and say, ‘Are you OK? You haven’t been out of your room in two days.’”
Remembering His Legacy
Hinds leaves behind a body of work that reshaped heavy music and inspired a generation of guitarists. His distinctive style, restless creativity and stage presence made him one of metal’s most recognisable figures.
