Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist and vocalist of acclaimed Atlanta heavy metal band Mastodon, died following a motorcycle accident late Wednesday night, August 20. He was 51.
According to Atlanta police, Hinds was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he collided with a BMW SUV making a left turn at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, less than two miles from downtown Atlanta. Officers responded to the scene around 11:35 p.m., finding Hinds unresponsive. Emergency medical workers pronounced him dead shortly after. The woman driving the SUV remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Atlanta News First has now shared a news report on the impact Hinds' death has had on the local Atlanta scene, which you can watch below. It's a massive fucking bummer, as this entire situation has been.
Mastodon confirmed Hinds' death in an emotional statement shared across social media yesterday, saying: "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."
Tributes have also poured in from across the music industry. Rennie Jaffe of Mastodon's former label Relapse Records wrote on X: "The records Mastodon released with Relapse are all-time classics across any genre, and they would not sound the way they sound without Brent. His larger-than-life personality was eclipsed only by his monstrous musicianship."
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher. For 25 years, the lineup remained unchanged, releasing eight acclaimed studio albums including 2002's Remission and 2021's Hushed And Grim. Mastodon scored nine entries on the Billboard 200, six Grammy nominations, and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2018 for their song "Sultan's Curse".
