Mastodon paid tribute to their co-founder and former guitarist Brent Hinds during their show at Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska, on Friday. It was their first performance since Hinds died on Wednesday at the age of 51.
“We lost somebody very special to us yesterday,” drummer Brann Dailor said of Hinds, who died in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday at the age of 51. “Brent Hinds, 25 years with us as our guitar player, one of the most creative, beautiful people that we’ve ever come across in this world, tragically left us. Very, very unfortunate.
“We loved him so, so, so very much. And we had the ups and downs of a 25-year relationship, you know what I mean? It’s not always perfect, it’s not always amazing, but we were brothers to the end,” he continued in his onstage tribute on behalf of the band, which he delivered at the end of their set as fan-filmed footage shows. “And we really loved each other and we made a lot, a lot of very beautiful music together. And I think that that’s gonna stand the test of time, evidenced by you people here tonight.”
“So we will continue to play Brent’s beautiful, beautiful music that he helped us make, that we formed this band together and traveled the world together, slept in a van together, laid our heads down on beds of fucking kitty litter, got way too drunk to remember anything the next day about a thousand, million times over and over again with the love that we shared and the beauty, all the audiences that we played for, all the stages we stepped on,” Dailor said.
“I don’t know. We’re just at a loss for words. We’re absolutely devastated and crushed to lose him and to be able to never have him back again. But you guys made it OK for us to come on stage and do this tonight. So that was for fucking Brent, OK? Thank you guys so much.”
He concluded: “Thank you for helping us get through that one, it was fucking tough for us. But you guys are fucking amazing, so thank you.”
Hinds co-founded the Grammy-winning group in 2000 with bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Dailor. In March, the band announced that they parted ways with the guitarist. Hinds later claimed he was kicked out of the band.
On Thursday, Mastodon said in a statement on social media that they were “in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief” over his death. “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.”