Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has broken his silence since the band announced Brent Hinds' departure after 25 years.
“It was a hard decision we all had to make,” Kelliher tells Guitar World, adding that he “wishes nothing for the best” for Hinds and welcomes “a new chapter of Mastodon.”
"It’s amazing that we made it 25 years,” he says. “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.
While Kelliher believes “you could never replace any of us," he says "that doesn’t mean there’s not someone else out there [who] has stuff to offer in a new direction.”
Hinds' departure was announced on March 7. The guitarist had been absent from a public event just days before. The group recruited YouTuber Ben Eller to fill in for Hinds two days later during their performance at the Tool in the Sand festival in the Dominican Republic.
Hinds’ time in the band hasn’t been without its troubles. He suffered a broken nose and a brain hemorrhage following a fight with System of a Down bass player Shavo Odadjian and musician William Hudson at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas, where the band had performed.
He was still recovering when Mastodon began working on Crack the Skye, the 2009 album that took the progressive-metal band to new heights.
He had continued to play an active role in the group over the past decade, although he declined to participate when Guitar Player reached out to discuss Crack the Skye with him and Kelliher last November.
Although Kelliher hasn't elaborated on the reason for Hinds' departure, he suggests the guitarist may be involved in other activities.
“Like a marriage, sometimes people grow apart, and they get interested in other things,” Kelliher says. “It was time to part ways.
"We wish nothing but the best for Brent in his endeavors, chasing his dreams and doing what he likes to do. We look forward to a new chapter of Mastodon.”
Hinds has dabbled in multiple side-projects in recent years. There was a one-off album with Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, a supergroup featuring Mars Volta, Zappa Plays Zappa, and Alice In Chains members, in 2016. He also played on Legend of the Seagullmen’s only album in 2018, a project that featured Tool and BEAT drummer Danny Carey.
However, he’s been far more active with his non-metal endeavors, including the country-tinged West End Motel. Kelliher seems to point to a stylistic change contributing to the decision.
Mastodon has two scheduled touring runs this year, starting with a triple-headed bill alongside Periphery and Coheed & Cambria in May. Time will tell whether Eller will still be along for the ride by then, or if Mastodon’s next chapter will be underway.
The band had begun working on a follow-up to their eighth album, Hushed & Grim, last year.
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