Rest In Peace Brent Hinds 1974–2025

Brent Hinds was many things: a wild card, a creative powerhouse, and one of modern metal’s most unpredictable voices. For 25 years, he was the restless soul of Mastodon — brilliant, chaotic, and wholly unforgettable. His death on August 20, following a tragic motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia, leaves a space in the music world that few can fill.

A Chaotic Upbringing and an Unconventional Start

Born William Brent Hinds on January 16, 1974, in Helena, Alabama, he was raised in nearby Birmingham — which he irreverently dubbed “Boring-ham.” In a 2009 interview, Hinds described himself as “a total hellion… with red eyes and everythin’.”

His school years were turbulent. He admitted to frequently taking LSD before class and ignoring academic tasks. Instead, he spent his time sketching skulls and channeling his creativity into anything but homework.

Although this rebellious streak might suggest a direct leap into metal, his musical path was far more winding. Initially homeschooled in bluegrass and country, Hinds also studied classical guitar at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. His father insisted he learn banjo first — a decision Hinds begrudgingly credited for honing his skills.

Finding His Voice in Atlanta

In the early 1990s, Hinds moved to Atlanta after watching Troy Sanders’ band, Four Hour Fogger, perform at a local bar. At the time, he was, in his own words, “a fucked-up kid” — addicted to heroin, drinking heavily, and often tripping on LSD.

Despite his personal struggles, he pursued music relentlessly. He worked various construction jobs to stay afloat, including roofing, framing, and stone paving. Meanwhile, his musical style continued to evolve.

Bill Kelliher, future Mastodon bandmate, first saw Hinds play in 1998. “There was this skinny, dreadlocked guy with a Flying V,” he recalled. “It was chaos — but captivating.” That impression led to a pivotal collaboration.

The Rise of Mastodon

In January 2000, Hinds and Sanders joined forces with Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. They formed Mastodon — a band that would change the face of heavy metal.

It wasn’t until their second album, Leviathan (2004), that global acclaim followed. Suddenly, they were cover stars, festival headliners, and earning praise from legends like Metallica and Tool.

However, Hinds’s ascent wasn’t without conflict. In 2007, following a violent altercation at the MTV Awards, he fell into a coma for three days. When he woke, it was violently and unforgettably — vomiting on everyone in the room. Even so, he barely slowed down.

Creative Fire and Friction

By 2009, Hinds had become a driving force behind Crack the Skye, often regarded as Mastodon’s masterwork. His songwriting was personal, spiritual, and musically ambitious.

Nevertheless, tensions with bandmates occasionally surfaced. In 2019, this writer interviewed Hinds during a particularly dark period and ultimately chose not to publish the conversation — it was too raw, too bitter. A few years later, another journalist encountered similar frustration and sadness. Hinds called Atlanta “a total shithole” and lamented the city’s rising danger for motorcyclists.

His words were eerily prescient.

A Tragic End

On August 20, 2025, Brent Hinds was struck by a BMW SUV while riding his Harley Davidson in Atlanta. The SUV failed to stop at an intersection. Hinds died from multiple blunt force injuries. He was just 51.

Farewell to a Wild Genius

Hinds could be maddening, impulsive, and brutally honest. Yet, he was also charming, generous, and fiercely original. His musical legacy — from his banjo beginnings to metal masterpieces — remains one of the most unique journeys in modern rock.

The world has lost a genuine one-off. And metal has lost one of its wildest, most brilliant souls.

Rest in peace, Brent. You’ll never be forgotten.

Copy Right By Hornnastee