It has been nearly four months since Brent Hinds parted ways with Mastodon, and the silence from his end had fans wondering where he stood. Now, the iconic guitarist has ended the guessing game, and he is not mincing words. In a brutal Instagram comment that left fans stunned, Hinds referred to Mastodon as ¡°a shit band with horrible humans,¡± firmly shattering any illusions of an amicable exit.
The fiery remark was posted under Mastodon¡¯s celebratory post marking 11 years since their 2014 album Once More Round the Sun. When a fan commented how much they would miss Hinds, he popped up in the replies to make his stance crystal clear, he would not be missing the band, and clearly, he has no love lost for his former bandmates.
Back in March, Mastodon had announced Hinds¡¯ departure with all the usual pleasantries. The band shared a statement saying the split was mutual after 25 ¡°monumental years¡± and wished him success and happiness. They also assured fans that their 2025 touring plans would remain intact and expressed excitement about the next chapter.
However, if Hinds' recent comment is anything to go by, the farewell was anything but mutual.
Mastodon¡¯s rhythm guitarist, Bill Kelliher, recently reflected on the band¡¯s legacy in an interview with Guitar World. He looked back fondly on their 25 years together, highlighting milestones like Grammy wins and tours with heavyweights like Metallica and Iron Maiden. Kelliher likened the band¡¯s journey to a marriage, noting that sometimes people simply grow apart. He emphasised they still wished Hinds well, a sentiment that, evidently, is not reciprocated.
The stark contrast between the band¡¯s diplomatic statements and Hinds¡¯ caustic remark paints a picture of behind-the-scenes tension that fans never saw coming. While Mastodon forges ahead with their future plans, one thing is clear: Brent Hinds has closed the chapter on his Mastodon era with a flame-thrower, not a handshake.
As fans continue speculating about what led to the apparent fallout, one thing is certain, the breakup was far messier than anyone imagined.