Brent Hinds Death: Mastodon Co-Founder Guitarist Dies in Atlanta Motorcycle Crash

Brent Hinds Death shocked the global metal community when the former lead guitarist and co-founder of Mastodon tragically passed away in Atlanta on August 20, 2025. The collision occurred around 11:35 PM when a BMW SUV failed to yield at an intersection, slamming into Hinds’ Harley-Davidson. Despite immediate medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Crash Details and Investigation

Local officials confirmed that the BMW driver remained at the site following the crash. The Fulton County Medical Examiner later confirmed that Death was due to multiple blunt-force injuries. Investigations are ongoing. For more details, refer to AP News and The New York Times.

Career Highlights of Brent Hinds

William Brent Hinds, born January 16, 1974, in Helena, Alabama, co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor. The band's fusion of heavy metal with progressive and sludge rock earned them critical acclaim, including a Grammy Award for “Emperor of Sand” in 2017, and multiple Billboard chart successes. Wikipedia offers a comprehensive career overview and discography. 0

Departure From Mastodon

Earlier in 2025, Hinds parted ways with the band—initially described as mutual—but later he claimed on social media that he had been forced out, calling his former bandmates “horrible humans.” 1

Legacy and Tributes

Upon hearing the news, Mastodon posted on social media that they are in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief”. The band called Hinds a “creative force” whose musical contributions were central to their identity. 2

“We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs…” — Mastodon statement via Instagram. 3

Beyond Mastodon

Hinds was also an active musician outside Mastodon, fronting projects such as Fiend Without a Face, West End Motel, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, and Legend of the Seagullmen. His multifaceted contributions spanned genres and scenes. 4

Additional Analysis & Statistics

In a 25-year career, Hinds contributed to eight Mastodon studio albums, several of which received Grammy nominations and charted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. “Emperor of Sand” won a Grammy in 2017, cementing Mastodon’s status in modern metal. 5

His tragic death at 51 marks a profound loss for the heavy metal community—from fans and fellow musicians to the genre at large.