Guitarist Bill Kelliher has spoken out for the first time following the loss of his former Mastodon bandmate Brent Hinds, who died last week.
The lead guitarist, who left the line-up earlier this year, died in a motorcycle accident last Wednesday (August 20), aged 51 years old.
Countless names would go on to pay tribute, including Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, Garbage‘s Shirley Manson and Tool. Mastodon later paid their respects on stage, telling the audience that they had “lost somebody very special to us”.
Now, Bill Kelliher has spoken out for the first time since the loss, and said that Hinds was like “a brother” to him.
“It’s been hard to get a grip on my emotions this week,” he said on Instagram. “We had our good and bad times just like in any relationship. All that we accomplished after that first fistfight in the van 25 years ago. I didn’t think you’d be taken from us like this, absolute loss of a true one of a kind guitar wizard extraordinaire.”
“Keeping up with you taught me a lot. You were a brother. We were a family. You were a wild man not to be tamed. You could fuck up bowling ball with a feather. You weren’t perfect but you were always DIRTY-B,” he added. “Your vagabond/gypsy/wild child lives on through your music, I will miss your crazy ass Manimal.”
Kelliher is the first of the members to share an official individual statement since the loss, although others including drummer Brann Dailor have been sharing frequent images and videos of them together over the years.
Touring keyboardist João “Rasta” Nogueira has also shared an emotional post, looking back at his time working with the guitarist and sharing what kind of person he was. He added that Hinds was “troubled” the last time he saw him, “crushed by the weight of your own existence, and you wanted me to go with you to a place where I could not follow.”
Hinds and Mastodon parted ways in March this year after 25 years together. The band wrote at the time: “We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavours.”
Shortly after, Hinds made a handful of comments online suggesting that his departure was not as amicable as once thought. He described his former bandmates as “horrible humans”, and shared scathing remarks that implied he was “kicked out” of the band.
Kelliher then described the split as a marriage that had run its course: “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.”
Sharing the news of his death, which happened when his Harley Davidson collided with a BMW SUV, the band said: “We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many.
“Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”
