Brent Hinds, co-founder and longtime guitarist of the Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon, died Wednesday night in Atlanta following a motorcycle accident. He was 51.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Hinds’ death to Rolling Stone, citing multiple blunt force injuries. According to Atlanta police, the crash occurred around 11:35 p.m. when Hinds’ Harley Davidson collided with an SUV that failed to yield while turning left. Officers arriving on the scene found Hinds unresponsive; he was pronounced dead by medical personnel. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

Hinds formed Mastodon in 2000 with bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor. The group rose out of Atlanta’s underground scene to become one of modern metal’s most acclaimed bands, blending progressive structures with crushing riffs. Over 25 years, the lineup released eight studio albums, including 2002’s Remission, 2004’s Leviathan, and 2009’s Crack the Skye. Their most recent record, Hushed and Grim, arrived in 2021.

Mastodon’s critical breakthrough came with Leviathan, later named one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time, with its single “Blood and Thunder” also included among the magazine’s 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs. They went on to win a Grammy in 2018 for Best Metal Performance with “Sultan’s Curse” from Emperor of Sand.

In March 2025, the band announced that Hinds was no longer part of the group. “We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared,” Mastodon wrote at the time, while Hinds later claimed he had been dismissed. His final recording with the band came in 2023 on “Floods of Triton,” a collaborative single with Lamb of God.

On Thursday, Mastodon confirmed his death in a statement on social media: “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 with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans.”

Known for his intricate playing and outsized personality, Hinds often described his unconventional path to the guitar. In a 2009 interview, he recalled learning banjo before his father allowed him to switch instruments, and admitted psychedelic drugs influenced his writing. His contributions helped shape Mastodon’s blend of ferocity and experimentation across albums such as Blood Mountain (2006), The Hunter (2010), and Emperor of Sand (2017), which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album.