Brent Hinds’ unexpected departure from Mastodon has left fans and the metal community in some sort of a shock. After 25 years, the guitarist announced he was stepping away just days before the band was set to play at Tool in the Sand, a festival hosted by Tool in the Dominican Republic. In response, Mastodon quickly brought in YouTube guitar educator Ben Eller, a longtime fan of the band, who had to learn 17 songs on short notice.
Now that some time has passed, Guitar World caught up with Bill Kelliher, Mastodon’s remaining guitarist, to reflect on Hinds‘ departure and what comes next for the band.
Reflecting on their long history together, Kelliher acknowledged, “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, Motorhead, and Tool. I cherish all of that.”
He compared the band’s dynamic to a long-term relationship, saying, “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.”
Kelliher also recognized how rare it is for a band to stay intact for so long. “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 the sum of four parts.”
Despite the nostalgia, Kelliher made it clear that Mastodon is moving forward. “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.”
As for Eller’s role in the band, it remains uncertain. Mastodon is set to tour with Periphery and Coheed & Cambria in May, but it’s unclear if Eller will be part of those shows or if the band will bring in a permanent replacement by then. For now, Kelliher remains tight-lipped about specifics but leaves fans with a promise: “We look forward to a new chapter of Mastodon.”
