Brent Hinds

Brent Hinds was a musician best known as a founding lead guitarist and co-vocalist for the heavy metal band Mastodon. Beyond his work with Mastodon, he founded the side project West End Motel, using the group to incorporate elements of soul, gospel, and heartland rock into his musical output.

In March 2025, Mastodon officially severed ties with Hinds, replacing him in the lineup with guitarist Nick Johnston. Public messaging initially framed the departure as a mutual and peaceful separation between long-standing partners. However, Hinds publicly set the record straight shortly before his death, revealing that his exit from the heavy metal outfit was far more contentious than originally reported. Hinds tragically died in a motorcycle crash in August 2025.

On August 20, 2026, the one-year anniversary of his passing, West End Motel released the tribute single Return of the Kid featuring Matt Pike. That same month, Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor reflected on the grief of losing Hinds while preparing to release the album Marrow Deep. In September 2026, the turmoil surrounding his split escalated further when Hinds' estate filed a lawsuit against his former Mastodon bandmates.