MASTODON's BILL KELLIHER pays tribute to BRENT HINDS: “you were a brother and we were a family”
27-08-2025
MASTODON guitarist Bill Kelliher has paid tribute to his bandmate Brent Hinds, who died last week after being injured in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta. He was 51.
Kelliher took to his Instagram to write: “It’s been hard to get a grip on my emotions this week.
“We had our good and bad times just like in any relationship. All that we accomplished after that first fistfight in the van 25 years ago.
“I didn’t think you’d be taken from us like this, absolute loss of a true one of a kind guitar wizard extraordinaire.
“Keeping up with you taught me a lot. You were a brother, we were a family, you were a wild man not to be tamed, you could f*ck up bowling ball with a feather.
“You weren’t perfect but you were always DIRTY-B!! Your vagabond/gypsy/wild child lives on through your music, I will miss your crazy ass Manimal”.
Hinds was reportedly riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle late Wednesday (August 20) when he collided with an SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta, according to Atlanta police.
Brent was found unresponsive by officers who responded to the crash around 11:35 p.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers.
Police said a woman driving a BMW SUV was making a left turn when she failed to yield and struck the motorcycle, which was headed west on Boulevard. The woman remained at the scene and spoke with investigators.
MASTODON has since issued the following statement: “We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident. 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. 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.”
An incident report from the Atlanta Police Department states that officers responded to an accident at the intersection of Memorial Dr. SE and Boulevard SE at approximately 11:35 p.m. “Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive male who was involved in the collision,” the police said. “The male appeared to be operating a Harley Davidson during the time of collision. Medical personnel pronounced the male deceased. The other driver involved, a female who occupied a BMW SUV remained on scene. The APD Accident Investigations Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances. Preliminary investigation indicates the male was traveling West on Boulevard. The female operating the BMW SUV failed to yield while turning left and collided into the male victim who was operating the Harley Davidson. The investigation remains active at this time.”
Rumors of Hinds‘s death first began circulating on Reddit after TOOL guitarist Adam Jones posted an image of Brent early Thursday (August 21) as an Instagram Story.
In March, MASTODON revealed that the band and Hinds had “mutually decided to part ways” after “25 monumental years together.”
Two months ago Brent Hinds has blasted his former bandmates as a “shit” group “with horrible humans”.
Hinds, who exited MASTODON in March, made his comments in a social media post earlier today (Wednesday, June 25).
After MASTODON shared the artwork of the band’s 2014 album “Once More ‘Round The Sun” to commemorate the LP’s 11th anniversary, one fan chimed in: “‘Halloween’ is definitely my #1 track on this record. Definitely gonna miss B. Hinds though”. Within minutes, Brent himself replied below MASTODON‘s original post, writing via his verified Instagram account: “I want miss being in a shit band with horrible humans”.
Since 2000, Hinds had served as lead guitarist and vocalist for MASTODON, alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, drummer Brann Dailor, and guitarist Bill Kelliher.
MASTODON announced Brent‘s departure from the band on March 7, writing in a private Facebook statement: “Friends and Fans, After 25 monumental years together, MASTODON and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways.
MASTODON and LAMB OF GOD‘s collaborative single called “Floods Of Triton” was released in September 2024. The track, which was recorded prior to the launch of the two bands’ “Ashes Of Leviathan” summer 2024 tour, was made available via Loma Vista Recordings.
Stream “FLOODS OF TRITON” AT THIS LOCATION.
This momentous collaboration also serves as a bookend for the bands’ highly successful summer tour, a celebration of two landmark albums that charted a path that countless heavy bands have followed in the intervening years. Mastodon’s Leviathan and Lamb of God’s Ashes of the Wake not only marked critical turning points in each band’s career but also left an indelible influence on the evolution of the genre. While “Floods Of Triton” echoes the innovation and raw energy of these albums, it also speaks to their persistent hunger for creativity and evolution and marks the first step in Mastodon’s next chapter.
“Floods of Triton” is out now on Loma Vista Recordings.
“Floods Of Triton” was recorded at MASTODON‘s own West End Sound in Atlanta and was produced by MASTODON and Tyler Bates, highly regarded in his own right for his scores for “Guardians Of The Galaxy”, “John Wick”, “MaXXXine” and more.
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