Brent Hinds, Mastodon’s Wild-Hearted Architect, Dies at 51 Following Tragic Motorcycle Collision

21 August 2025

Brent Hinds performs with Mastodon at 2015’s Rock in Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photograph: Raphael Dias/Getty Images

Brent Hinds, the co-founder, guitarist, and co-vocalist of Mastodon, has died at age 51 in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta. On the night of August 20, 2025, Hinds was riding his Harley-Davidson when a BMW SUV failed to yield at an intersection, colliding with him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirming that the cause of death was multiple blunt-force injuries and ruling the incident accidental.

Hinds, born in Helena, Alabama, in 1974, came to define Mastodon’s singular blend of progressive metal, sludge, and psychedelic rock through his dynamic riffs and edgy charisma. From the band’s formation in Atlanta in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor, he contributed to eight studio albums including Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain, and Hushed and Grim and helped steer them to worldwide acclaim. The band won a Grammy in 2018 for “Sultan’s Curse,” and Hinds’ influence resonated in every chord.

Months earlier, in March 2025, Mastodon and Hinds announced they had “mutually decided to part ways,” though Hinds later claimed he was ousted from the group, calling his bandmates “horrible humans.”

Mastodon paid tribute with a deeply emotional statement on Instagram: “We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief. 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.” They asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Hinds had remained creatively active post-Mastodon, collaborating on projects like Lamb of God’s “Floods of Triton” in 2024 and performing with bands such as Fiend Without a Face, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and Legend of the Seagullmen.

Local fans in Atlanta gathered at one of Hinds’ favorite hangouts, where emotional tributes and calls for motorcycle safety echoed through the crowd. One fan implored drivers to “look twice for motorcycles” to prevent similar tragedies.

For years, Brent Hinds’ guitar work and creative vision were central to Mastodon’s identity and to metal’s evolution. He brought fearlessness to his playing and complexity to the music. Though his name now leads the credits no more, his legacy endures in riffs that continue to reverberate, challenging and inspiring listeners. His death is a devastating blow to heavy music and to everyone who witnessed his journey across stages, genres, and hearts.