Bill Kelliher recently discussed Mastodon\u2019s decision to replace Brent Hinds with Nick Johnston in an interview featured on Sixty Scales and the Truth.<\/p>\n
The conversation took place just days before Hinds\u2019 death. Kelliher addressed the band\u2019s choice to bring Johnston into the lineup.<\/p>\n
When asked how he ended up asking Nick Johnston to replace Brent Hinds in Mastodon, Kelliher shared his perspective on the new guitarist\u2019s qualities and fit with the band.<\/p>\n
\u201cNick is freaking good. And more importantly, he\u2019s just very humble and he\u2019s very extremely excited to be where he is with us,\u201d Kelliher said. \u201cAnd he fits right in with us and our, you know, we\u2019re all pretty laid-back guys and don\u2019t take ourselves too seriously, you know, our music.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kelliher elaborated on Johnston\u2019s integration into the band and their creative process.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live and breathe Mastodon every day. But Nick is surely becoming one of those same people,\u201d he continued. \u201cAt first it was a little it was weird, honestly. It\u2019s different, you know, \u2018cuz he\u2019s not the guy that\u2019s that\u2019s been there for 25 years, but he\u2019s quickly adapting to fit right in with us and we\u2019re writing together like crazy and just he\u2019s just always so excited about going on. He\u2019s like a kid in a candy store when he goes on stage like I can\u2019t wait to get out there and grab the candy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The interview provides a poignant look at the band\u2019s transition. It was conducted shortly before the tragic loss of their former bandmate.<\/p>\n
Guitar World reported that Brent Hinds tragically passed away on August 20, 2025, at the age of 51. The former Mastodon guitarist died in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia. The driver of a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn, leading to a fatal collision with Hinds\u2019 Harley-Davidson.<\/p>\n
The Fulton County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office confirmed the death, as Atlanta News First noted. The accident marked a tragic end to the life of one of progressive metal\u2019s most distinctive voices and guitarists.<\/p>\n
Hinds was a founding member of Mastodon, which he co-founded in 2000 alongside Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders, and Brann Dailor. Wikipedia documented his significant contributions to the band\u2019s sound and identity throughout his 25-year tenure with the group. He helped establish Mastodon as one of the most innovative bands in heavy music.<\/p>\n
The timing of Kelliher\u2019s interview adds a layer of significance to his comments about the lineup change. His reflections on Johnston\u2019s enthusiasm and integration into the band now serve as a testament to Mastodon\u2019s commitment to moving forward while honoring the legacy that Hinds helped create over more than two decades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bill Kelliher recently discussed Mastodon\u2019s decision to replace Brent Hinds with Nick Johnston in an interview featured on Sixty Scales and the Truth. The conversation … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n