Brent Hinds, co-founder and former lead guitarist of the Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon, died Wednesday night in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 51.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:35 p.m. on August 20, 2025, at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Boulevard in Atlanta. According to police reports, Hinds was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Boulevard when he collided with a BMW SUV. The female driver of the SUV failed to yield while making a left turn, leading to the fatal collision.
Officers arrived at the scene to find Hinds unresponsive. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the location. The BMW driver remained at the scene following the accident. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed Hinds’ death, listing multiple blunt force injuries as the cause. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. The Atlanta-based band quickly gained recognition in the heavy metal scene with their debut album “Remission” in 2002, followed by critically acclaimed releases including “Leviathan,” “The Hunter,” “One More ‘Round the Sun,” and “Emperor of Sand.”
The band achieved significant commercial success, with nine albums reaching the Billboard 200 chart. Three albums reached the top 10, while “One More ‘Round the Sun” and “Emperor of Sand” both peaked at number one on the Top Rock Albums chart. Mastodon earned six Grammy nominations throughout their career, winning the award for best metal performance in 2018 for “Sultan’s Curse” from their album “Emperor of Sand.”
Born William Brent Hinds in Pelham, Alabama, in 1974, the musician relocated to Atlanta in the 1990s after witnessing Sanders perform in Birmingham, Alabama. Hinds brought a unique musical background to the band, having studied classical guitar before embracing heavy metal. In a 2009 interview, he revealed his father made him learn banjo before allowing him to purchase a guitar, which exposed him to hillbilly music that influenced his later work.
Despite Mastodon’s heavy metal classification, Hinds maintained the band was more aligned with classic rock. He expressed his vision for the group as a heavy, psychedelic entity rather than a traditional metal band focused on screaming vocals and extensive drum solos. His musical versatility extended beyond Mastodon, as he performed with various acts including Fiend Without a Face, The Blood Vessels, West End Motel, Four Hour Fogger, The Last of the Blue Eyed Devils, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and Legend of the Seagullmen.
Hinds and his Mastodon bandmates briefly appeared in popular culture beyond music, making cameo appearances as “wildlings” in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” during the fifth season episode “Hardhome” and later in “The Dragon and the Wolf.”
The musician’s departure from Mastodon occurred in March 2025 after 25 years with the band. Initially, the split was described as mutual, with the band expressing pride in their shared musical history and wishing Hinds success in future endeavors. However, tensions emerged when Hinds later disputed this characterization, claiming in social media comments that he was kicked out of the band for embarrassing them.
In recent comments on the band’s social media posts, Hinds criticized his former bandmates’ live performances and suggested his departure was not voluntary. He referred to Sanders and Dailor as individuals who could not sing together live and described them as “horrible humans.”
Following news of his death, Mastodon’s surviving members released a statement expressing their grief. Sanders stated, “We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief.” The band described Hinds as a creative force with whom they shared numerous triumphs and milestones, acknowledging the impact their music had on fans worldwide.
Tributes poured in from the music community following the announcement. Alice in Chains vocalist William DuVall expressed his shock at the news, while Queens of the Stone Age paid their respects on social media. Fans also shared memories and condolences, describing Hinds as a legend and praising his contributions to heavy metal music.
Mastodon was scheduled to perform at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer on Friday night, more than 4,200 miles from the accident scene. Fair representatives indicated the show was expected to proceed as planned despite the tragedy.
Hinds’ death marks the end of a significant chapter in heavy metal history, as his innovative guitar work and vocal contributions helped shape Mastodon’s distinctive sound that combined progressive rock, alternative, and grunge elements. His influence extended beyond traditional metal boundaries, incorporating psychedelic and country elements that distinguished the band in the heavy music landscape.
