Ex-Mastodon BRENT HINDS Slams Former Bandmates In Exit Statement: 'A S**t Band With Horrible Humans'

Summary

• Brent Hinds calls Mastodon a “shit band with horrible humans” after exiting in March, response came under an Instagram post celebrating an old album.
• Mastodon continues touring with new guitarist Nick Johnston, following fill-in shows by Ben Eller.
• Band members reflect on Hinds’ legacy and search for a replacement who can play well and survive the tour bus.

Brent Hinds, the former guitarist and vocalist of Mastodon, didn’t exactly offer a warm farewell. In a blunt comment on Instagram, he referred to the group as a “s**t band with horrible humans.”

The post came shortly after Mastodon shared artwork celebrating the 11th anniversary of their 2014 album Once More ‘Round the Sun. A fan mentioned how much they’d miss Hinds, especially his work on the song “Halloween.” Hinds responded directly: “I won’t miss being in a s**t band with horrible humans.”

Hinds left the band in March 2025, ending a 25-year run that began in 2000. He had shared guitar and vocal duties with Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders, and Brann Dailor. Over the years, Mastodon released eight studio albums, starting with Remission in 2002 and most recently Hushed and Grim in 2021.

When the band announced his departure, they described it as a mutual decision. The official statement said they were “deeply proud” of the time spent with Hinds and wished him success. They also assured fans that upcoming 2025 tour dates would continue as planned.

The band’s record includes six Grammy nominations and one win in 2018 for Best Metal Performance with the track “Sultan’s Curse.”

After his exit, Hinds played a local show in Atlanta with his other band, Fiend Without a Face, on March 21.

Mastodon brought in Ben Eller, a YouTube guitarist with a sizable following, to play with them at TOOL’s Tool In The Sand festival in the Dominican Republic. For their spring 2025 tour, they’ve turned to Nick Johnston, a Canadian guitarist known for solo work and collaborations with Polyphia, Guthrie Govan, and Periphery.

In an interview with Radical Metal, Kelliher acknowledged how difficult it would be to replace Hinds: “Nobody plays like Brent. He’s extremely unique.”

He expanded on the search for a permanent guitarist in Guitar World, saying they want someone who “can play well, has a unique style, and can handle life on tour buses with three other people for weeks at a time.” Compatibility, he said, matters just as much as musicianship.

Reflecting on Hinds’ time in the band, Kelliher told Guitar World that they’ve shared some “wild experiences,” including touring with Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motörhead, and TOOL. “We achieved a lot together,” he said.

Despite the personal fallout, Kelliher acknowledged the challenge of maintaining a band for 25 years. “It’s like being married to three other dudes,” he said. “You’ve got to agree on everything, travel together, live together. That we lasted that long is a feat in itself.”

Mastodon recently wrapped up The Infinite Arc tour with Coheed and Cambria and Periphery, covering 20 cities across the U.S., including stops in Virginia, Chicago, and Iowa.

As for what comes next, Mastodon plans to keep moving forward. Hinds, it seems, has already moved on.

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