Brent Hinds, the former singer and guitarist of the heavy metal band Mastodon, has died.
The 51-year-old musician was killed in a motorcycle crash around 11:35 p.m. ET on Aug. 20 in Atlanta, according to Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA.
Atlanta police said an initial investigation showed Hinds was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he collided with a BMW SUV whose driver failed to yield to him while making a left turn, WXIA reported. Officers found Hinds unresponsive at the scene.
The Fulton County Medical Examinerโs Office confirmed Hindsโ death to WXIA.
The bandโs members paid tribute to Hinds Aug. 21 on the official Mastodon social media accounts, saying they were โin a state of unfathomable sadness and griefโ after learning of the musicianโs death.
โWe are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom weโve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many,โ the band wrote, adding, โOur hearts are with Brentโs family, friends, and fans.โ
Hinds co-founded Mastodon in Atlanta in 2000, Billboard reported. The band has gone on to earn six Grammy nominations, winning once, in 2018, for best metal performance for โSultanโs Curse.”
Several of the band’s albums have landed in the Billboard 200 album chart, with two albums โย 2014โs “One More โRound the Sun” and 2017โs “Emperor of Sand” โ reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.
Mastodon announced in March that Hinds and the rest of the band had “mutually decided to part ways” after 25 years together.
“Weโre deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history weโve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors,” the band wrote on Instagram at the time.
