Brent Hinds, the founding member and former lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Mastodon, has died in a motorcycle crash.
The 51-year-old, who left the Grammy-winning band earlier this year, died in a collision in Atlanta, Georgia.
Police told US media outlets he died on Wednesday after his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV whose driver did not give way while making a turn. A local medical examiner’s office later confirmed his death.
In a statement posted on social media, Mastodon said they were in a “state of unfathomable sadness and grief”.
“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,” the band wrote on Instagram.
Queens of the Stone age paid tribute on X, writing: “Rest in Peace Brent Hinds. With love & respect. See you on the other side old friend.”
Alice in Chains star William DuVall posted: “This has knocked the wind out of me. RIP to the great Brent Hinds.”
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. He shared lead vocals and songwriting duties.
Their hardcore sound combined prog-rock, alternative and grunge – on albums such as Remission, Leviathan and Emperor of Sand – drawing in legions of metal fans and ultimately critical acclaim.
Hinds and his bandmates also made a brief appearance as “wildlings” on series fives of the fantasy drama TV series Game of Thrones.
Earlier this year though, Billboard reported they had “mutually decided to part ways”.
Hinds disputed that account however earlier this month, saying he had been kicked out of the band. Mastodon performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell gig in July without him.
Despite his success in the genre, Alabama-raised Hinds never considered himself to be strictly a heavy metal guitarist. He had previously studied classical guitar and would go on to note his love of country and the heavier end of psychedelic rock music.
In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Hinds explained how he learned to play guitar. “My dad’s cool as hell,” he said, “but in an asshole move, he made me learn the banjo before he would buy me a guitar.
“So I was learning all this hillbilly music with my uncle, and then I focused on being an awesome guitar player. My mom would come in and say, ‘are you OK? You haven’t been out of your room in two days’.”
Hinds also played with the surfabilly band Fiend Without a Face and classic rock acts such as The Blood Vessels, West End Motel and Four Hour Fogger, as well as The Last of the Blue Eyed Devils, Giraffe Tongue Orchestra and Legend of the Seagullmen.
