Brent Hinds Is Suing Mastodon Over Money and Image Rights

The estate of Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds, who died in August 2025, filed a civil lawsuit on September 3 at the Fulton County Court in the US state of Georgia. The case targets surviving band members Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher and revolves around two main issues: the settlement of Hinds' business stake in the band and the use of his likeness in promotional material for the new album Marrow Deep.

Hinds left Mastodon in March 2025 after 25 years of collaboration. The band initially described the split as mutual and amicable, but Hinds later contradicted that on social media, calling his former bandmates "horrible humans" among other things. According to the lawsuit, Hinds was notified of his departure by email and received an $80,000 check as a buyout for his share in the various companies affiliated with the band. The estate argues, however, that the band never explained how they arrived at that figure. Because Hinds never signed the accompanying separation agreement before his death, the check has never been cashed, and the estate is holding the money in reserve until a full financial audit can determine what his share was actually worth.

Hinds died on August 20, 2025, at the age of 51, after being struck on his Harley Davidson by an SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE in Atlanta, less than two miles from the city center. According to police, Hinds was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigation based on camera footage showed he was traveling at a speed of between 63 and 68 miles per hour, roughly double the posted speed limit for that location. The band learned of his death at a baggage carousel at an Alaskan airport, just before what would have been their final concert before recording sessions were set to begin.

The second point of dispute concerns the album artwork for Marrow Deep, Mastodon's ninth studio album and their first without Hinds. The cover features three female figures representing the Fates from Greek mythology. Hidden in the fabric beneath the figure of Atropos, the goddess who cuts the thread of life, are skulls, including a bearded, tattooed face that the estate says is a recognizable depiction of Hinds. The face of Michele Jeanne Lawrence, the mother of drummer Dailor who also passed away in 2025, is reportedly incorporated into the design as well. The band publicly described the figures as a tribute to loved ones who had died, but the estate contends that Hinds' likeness was used without permission and for commercial purposes.

The lawsuit also takes aim at the 35 minute documentary The Mastodon in the Room, which was released more than a month before the album. In it, Dailor, Sanders and Kelliher speak openly about their relationship with Hinds and his death. The estate claims the band members disclosed confidential, personal information that Hinds had deliberately kept private during his lifetime, including possible references to substance use issues as a reason for his departure. Dailor himself acknowledged having had reservations about releasing the documentary, since Hinds was no longer able to defend himself, but said the band felt compelled to be honest following Hinds' public attacks on the group. The album's lead single, Your Ghost Again, was written by Dailor as a direct tribute to the late guitarist. He said he kept thinking he could see Hinds in the spots around the studio where he used to stand. Mastodon has not responded to press requests for comment. The band is scheduled for a North American tour kicking off on September 16 in Orlando, with Deafheaven and Alcest as support acts.