Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher Breaks Silence on Brent Hinds’ Departure

The shockwave from Brent Hinds’ sudden departure from Mastodon last week continues to ripple through the metal community. On March 7th, the Atlanta-based progressive sludge metal band announced the exit of their longtime guitarist/vocalist, marking the end of a 25-year journey together. While Hinds has yet to comment publicly, the social media posts he’s been resharing suggest the split may not have been amicable.

This past weekend, Mastodon took the stage for the first time without Hinds, performing at the inaugural ‘Tool Live In The Sand’ festival in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Filling in was Ben Eller, a YouTuber and accomplished guitarist known for his viral video ‘Stuff Mastodon Does.’

Now, guitarist Bill Kelliher has spoken publicly for the first time about Hinds’ departure. In an interview with Guitar World, Kelliher reflected on the band’s 25-year legacy:

“What can you say about the legacy of Mastodon’s first 25 years with Brent? It’s been a fun, wild fucking ride, that’s for sure. We achieved a lot of things that I never in a million years would have imagined. There’s been 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. You know, it’s amazing that we made it 25 years with the four of us. I mean, it’s like being married to three other dudes, traveling the world, trying to stay the course, and having everybody agree.

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.”

As for Mastodon’s next steps, Kelliher remained tight-lipped about a permanent replacement but hinted at new possibilities:

“That doesn’t mean there’s not someone else out there that has stuff to offer in a new direction. I think I’ll just leave it there, you know? It was a hard decision we all had to make. It’s just… it was just time.”

Though Eller’s long-term role remains uncertain, he shared his excitement about stepping in for the band:

“What an incredible weekend playing with @mastodonrocks as a part of @toolinthesand. You guys who have followed me for a while know how much I love this music, so to be asked to play alongside the band is a TRUE honor. I’ve seen your kind and supportive words for me out there, and it means the world to me!

Thank you all, and thank you to @billy_butterslax, @creamale, and Troy for trusting me to get the job done. Playing the parts of one of my favorite guitarists ever is no easy task, but it was a joy. Cheers, everyone!”

With Mastodon’s co-headlining ‘The Infinite Arc’ tour with Coheed And Cambria not set to kick off until May, the band has some time to finalize their lineup. The tour will also feature Periphery as the opening act.

05/09 Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival

With Coheed And Cambria & Periphery:

05/10 Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
05/11 Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Coliseum
05/13 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
05/15 Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
05/16 Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery
05/17 Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville (no Mastodon only)
05/17 Augusta, GA – William B Bell Auditorium (no Mastodon)
05/19 Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
05/21 Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
05/22 Lexington, KY -Rupp Arena
05/24 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
05/25 Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
05/26 Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
05/28 Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
05/30 Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
05/31 Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
06/01 Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre
06/03 Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
06/04 Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena
06/06 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
06/07 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
06/08 Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall

Mastodon:

07/11 Quebec City, QC – Festival Dete de Quebec (feat. Slayer, etc.)
07/05 Birmingham, UK – Villa Park (feat. Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, etc.)
07/06 London, UK – Finsbury Park (feat. Slayer, Amon Amarth, Anthrax, etc.)
07/30-08/03 Rasnov, ROM – Rockstadt Extreme Fest
07/31 Székesfehérvár, HUN – Fezen Festival
08/07-10 Walton-on-Trent, UK – Bloodstock Open Air
08/08-10 Kortrijk, BEL – Alcatraz Festival
08/15-17 Vallamand, SWI – Rock The Lakes
08/15-17 Eindhoven, NET – Dynamo Metalfest
08/22 Palmer, AK – Grandstand Alaska State Fair

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ben Eller (@benellerguitars)

---

Do you love independent bands, or are you in one? The Mosh Network is not just a rock/metal news website, but it doubles as an independent band directory, designed so that visitors can browse independent bands by not just subgenre, but location as well. It’s perfect to keep your finger on the pulse of your area’s hottest and newest bands or if you’re in a band, it’s a great way to find bands to network with! Click the banner below and start discovering bands all over the world, now!