Bill Kelliher Reveals What Mastodon Seeks in a Permanent Replacement for Brent Hinds

Mastodon’s recent split with longtime guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds took many fans by surprise, marking the end of a 25-year run with the founding member. While Hinds has yet to make a public statement on the matter, his activity on social media suggests that the departure may not have been entirely amicable.

The band played their first show since the lineup change earlier this month at the Tool Live In The Sand festival in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. For the performance, they enlisted metal YouTuber Ben Eller, known for his Mastodon-focused content, as a temporary live guitarist. While Eller’s involvement appears to be short-term, guitarist Bill Kelliher recently told Guitar World that the search for a permanent replacement is underway.

“Someone who is easy to get along with, and who really has a desire to play – and can play well,” Kelliher stated regarding their ideal candidate.

He elaborated on the importance of personal compatibility, saying:

“Obviously, you gotta be somebody who we all get along with and can stand the true test of time. Like, living together in a little tour bus on the road for days and months at a time—it’s got to be someone who can do all that.

And that’s another variable. Like, ‘Oh, this person is a great guitar player, why don’t you hire them?’ It’s like, ‘Well, they gotta stand the test of time.’ We’ve got to be able to sit down and have a beer with them, go out to dinner with them, and make sure they’re Mastodon material.

It’s got to be someone who has a unique style, and is very serious about it.”

Mastodon remains focused on moving forward, with Kelliher confirming that the band will continue their plans, including an upcoming tour with Coheed and Cambria in May and finishing their next album.

As for Hinds‘ departure, Kelliher reflected on their time together:

“What can you say about the legacy of Mastodon’s first 25 years with Brent? It’s been a fun, wild ride, that’s for sure. We achieved a lot of things that I never in a million years would have imagined—Grammys, touring with our heroes like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motörhead, and Tool. I cherish all of that.

Like a marriage, sometimes people grow apart, and they get interested in other things. We wish nothing but the best for Brent in chasing his dreams.

That we managed to do it this long, I feel like that’s a feat in itself. You could never replace any of us because we are the sum of four parts.

That doesn’t mean there’s not someone else out there that has something to offer in a new direction. It was a hard decision we all had to make… it was just time.”

With a new chapter ahead, Mastodon appears set to push forward, though the search for their next guitarist remains ongoing.

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