Ben Eller Reflects on Last-Minute Call to Join Mastodon Onstage

Guitarist and YouTube personality Ben Eller recently stepped in to perform live with Mastodon at the Tool Live In The Sand festival, following the sudden departure of longtime guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds. Now, Eller has provided more details on how he landed the gig, confirming that his connection with the band dates back several years.

Speaking with Guitar World, Eller revealed that Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher first reached out after seeing his viral ‘Stuff Mastodon Does‘ video:

“A couple of years ago, Bill reached out to me via email, saying how much he enjoyed my channel and the Stuff Mastodon Does video I made. We’ve stayed in touch ever since. He’s as much of a gear nut and riff chaser as I am, so we’re constantly sending each other bands, pedals, amps, and stuff to check out.”

Eller also confirmed that his role in the band came together at the last minute, as he was suddenly tasked with “learning 17 Mastodon songs immediately.” His involvement followed Hinds’ unexpected exit, which was announced just two days before the band’s March 9th performance.

When asked if he was hesitant about stepping into Hinds’ role, Eller admitted:

“I went into this looking at it as one of the coolest things I could ever get to be a part of, but also knowing that the backlash could potentially be brutal, especially given how incredible and important of a player Brent has been for the history of the band. I was absolutely unprepared for the level of positivity and kindness I would receive from the fans after the gig. I cannot believe how accepting and wonderful they’ve been; it’s overwhelming!”

As of now, it remains unclear if Eller will continue with Mastodon moving forward. Kelliher recently told Guitar World that while technical skill is important in selecting a permanent replacement, the band is also looking for someone who fits their chemistry and can handle the demands of touring.

Hinds has yet to publicly comment on his departure, though he has shared a few fan posts on social media expressing disappointment over the split.

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