Brent Hinds, former guitarist of heavy metal band Mastodon, dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash at 51

Former Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, 51, dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash months after band split and summer tour.

William Brent Hinds, co-founder and former guitarist of the heavy metal band Mastodon, died Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta. He was 51.

According to Atlanta police, the fatal crash occurred when the driver of a BMW SUV failed to yield while turning at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Boulevard, colliding with Hinds, who was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The Fulton County medical examiner’s office later confirmed Hinds as the victim.

According to the Atlanta News Former guitarist, co-founder Brent Hinds of Mastodon dies in Atlanta motorcycle crash

"William Brent Hinds was killed Wednesday night in a crash while on a Harley Davidson when the driver of a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn at the… pic.twitter.com/jvciANU7IP

— The Metal Voice (@themetalvoice) August 21, 2025

Hinds, originally from Alabama, moved to Atlanta to pursue music, where he eventually formed Mastodon in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher. The band gained prominence in the metal scene with albums like Leviathan (2004) and Crack the Skye (2009), blending sludge metal with progressive rock influences. Hinds played a central role in shaping Mastodon’s sound through his distinct guitar style and vocals, contributing to all eight of their studio albums through 2021’s Hushed and Grim.

In March 2025, Mastodon announced they had “mutually decided to part ways” with Hinds after 25 years together. However, Hinds later claimed he had been removed from the band, posting critical remarks on social media. The remaining band members did not publicly respond to his statements.

Despite his departure from Mastodon, Hinds continued performing and remained active in various music projects. Earlier this summer, he toured Europe with blues rocker Marcus King.

News of Hinds’ death began circulating on social media after Tool guitarist Adam Jones posted a tribute to him on Instagram early Thursday morning, followed by fan speculation online.

Mastodon has not yet issued an official statement following Hinds’ death. The band previously acknowledged their shared history with Hinds and expressed gratitude for their time together during their March announcement.