Mastodon Pays Tribute to Brent Hinds at First Show Since Guitarist’s Death: ‘Brothers to the End’
PALMER, AK — Heavy metal giants Mastodon returned to the stage on Friday, August 22, for the first time since the death of their co-founder and guitarist Brent Hinds, delivering an emotional performance at the Alaska State Fair’s Borealis Theatre. The show, part of the ConocoPhillips Alaska Concert Series, became both a concert and a tribute to Hinds, who passed away earlier in the week following a motorcycle accident in Atlanta at the age of 51.
A Heartfelt Message to Fans
At the end of the set, drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor stepped forward to address the audience, visibly shaken but resolute in honoring Hinds’ legacy.
“We lost somebody very special to us yesterday. Brent Hinds, 25 years with us as our guitar player, one of the most creative, beautiful people that we’ve ever come across in this world, tragically left us. Very, very unfortunate. We loved him so, so, so very much.”
Dailor continued, reflecting on their decades together: “We had the ups and downs of a 25-year relationship… but we were brothers to the end. And we really loved each other and we made a lot of very beautiful music together. And I think that’s gonna stand the test of time, evidenced by you people here tonight.”
Remembering Brent Hinds
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in Atlanta in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor. Over the past 25 years, the band released nine albums, including The Hunter (2011), Once More ’Round the Sun (2014), and Emperor of Sand (2017), the latter two both peaking at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart.
Their success was capped by a Grammy Award in 2018 for Best Metal Performance for “Sultan’s Curse.” Hinds’ distinctive guitar style, blending sludge metal weight with psychedelic flourishes, was central to Mastodon’s signature sound and influence on modern metal.
The Band’s Reflection
During his speech, Dailor recounted their early years: “We formed this band together and traveled the world together, slept in a van together, laid our heads down on beds of kitty litter, got way too drunk to remember anything the next day about a thousand, million times over. But the love that we shared and the beauty of all the audiences that we played for, all the stages we stepped on, it was everything.”
He concluded: “We’re just at a loss for words. We’re absolutely devastated and crushed to lose him… But you guys made it okay for us to come on stage and do this tonight. So that was for Brent. Thank you so much.”
A Legacy That Endures
Hinds’ passing follows a turbulent year for Mastodon. Earlier in 2025, the guitarist had stepped away from the lineup, initially described as a mutual decision but later disputed by Hinds, who said he was “kicked out.” Despite the tension, the tribute in Alaska underscored the deep bonds and brotherhood that defined the band’s decades together.
On Instagram, Mastodon shared: “We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… Last night, Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident. We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force.”
For fans in Alaska, the performance was more than a concert — it was a communal moment of mourning and remembrance. As Mastodon moves forward, their music will continue to carry the unmistakable imprint of Brent Hinds, whose creativity and spirit shaped one of metal’s most innovative bands.
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