Mastodon’s guitarist, Bill Kelliher, has reflected on the band’s remarkable 25-year run with its original lineup before the recent departure of Brent Hinds, calling it “amazing” that they stayed together for so long.
Speaking with Guitar World, Kelliher shared his thoughts on the split. “What can you say about the legacy of Mastodon’s first 25 years with Brent?” he mused. “It’s been an incredible, wild ride. We accomplished things I never imagined in a million years—winning Grammys, touring with our idols like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motörhead, and Tool. I treasure all of that.”
He likened the band’s journey to a long-term relationship: “Like a marriage, sometimes people grow apart and develop different interests. We wish Brent nothing but the best as he pursues his dreams. Honestly, lasting 25 years with the same four guys is incredible. It’s like being married to three other dudes—traveling the world, staying on track, and finding common ground.
“The fact that we held it together this long is an achievement in itself. You could never truly replace any of us because we are the sum of four parts.”
While acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, Kelliher didn’t rule out the possibility of a new addition to the band. “That doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who could bring something new to the table,” he said. “I’ll just leave it at that. It was a tough choice for all of us, but it was time.”
Hinds’ departure was announced just days before Mastodon was set to perform at Tool in the Sand, a festival in the Dominican Republic hosted by Tool. Committed to their touring schedule, the band enlisted YouTuber Ben Eller to take over Hinds’ parts.
Currently, Mastodon is working on the follow-up to their 2021 double album Hushed and Grim. However, they haven’t shared details on how far along the process is. “We look forward to a new chapter of Mastodon,” Kelliher added.
Meanwhile, Tool in the Sand drew controversy beyond Mastodon’s set, as Tool themselves faced backlash for not delivering two unique performances as originally promised—sparking the possibility of a class-action lawsuit.
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