William Brent Hinds, the guitarist who helped shape Mastodon’s sound, died Wednesday night in Atlanta after a collision involving his motorcycle and a BMW SUV. He was 51.
Revolver magazine broke the news, and local reports confirmed the accident happened at the corner of Memorial Drive and Boulevard.
How did William Brent Hinds die?
Details from Atlanta News First say Hinds was riding his Harley-Davidson when the SUV, attempting a turn, failed to yield and slammed into him. First responders found Hinds unresponsive at the scene, and medical personnel later confirmed his death.
The Fulton County medical examiner’s office officially identified him, and Mastodon posted a tribute on Instagram.
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
Who Was William Brent Hinds?
Born in Atlanta in 1974, Hinds had music in his blood long before Mastodon. Back in the mid-90s, he was gigging around with a band called Four Hour Fogger—Troy Sanders was there too. Fate stepped in at a High on Fire basement show, where Hinds and Sanders met Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher. That’s when Mastodon was born.
Hinds played with Mastodon for over two decades, leaving a permanent mark on albums like Leviathan, Blood Mountain, Crack the Skye, and Emperor of Sand. The band’s 2021 record, Hushed and Grim, ended up being his last with them.
💔 RIP Brent Hinds – So sad to learn of the passing of this immensely unique talent, amazing human and all around top dude who was always super supportive and welcoming whenever we had the chance to hang out. Our set at @theshredderboise in Boise tonight is in your honour brother pic.twitter.com/FibJrrJjoZ
— KING PARROT (@KINGPARROTBAND) August 21, 2025
oh god no, come on, not Brent Hinds.
this fucking sucks. he is beloved in this house, my husband & i met almost 20 years ago with Blood Mountain as the soundtrack to our relationship, and Brent’s music has inspired me ever since. this is so sad & untimely.
rest in rock, Brent pic.twitter.com/Dp258TEDde
— nj ✨ (@artrockrebel) August 21, 2025
Why did William Brent Hinds quit Mastodon?
As for why Hinds left Mastodon after 25 years, things got messy. The band announced his exit as a mutual decision in March, saying they were proud of their shared history and wished him well.
But Hinds himself later contradicted that, claiming he was pushed out. Responding to a video online, he criticized his former bandmates’ performances, saying they were “way out of key,” and called his departure anything but friendly. According to Hinds, they kicked him out for “embarrassing them for being who I am.”
