The estate of Brent Hinds, the late guitarist from metal band Mastodon, has initiated legal action against the group over unpaid compensation related to his ownership stake. Hinds passed away in a motorcycle accident in August 2025, approximately five months after the band announced they had decided to separate. According to the lawsuit filed in Fulton County Court, no formal agreement had been reached regarding his departure from the band before his death.
Central to the dispute is a settlement offer of $80,000 presented to the estate following Hinds’ passing. The estate claims this sum was intended to purchase his remaining interest in Mastodon, including rights to the band’s music and merchandise, but the check has not been deposited. The lawsuit also alleges that band members continued using Hinds’ likeness in promotional materials despite his exit in March 2025, including what the estate describes as a recognizable depiction of the guitarist on the cover of the recently released album Marrow Deep, which contains no musical contributions from Hinds.
Additionally, the estate contends that band members violated a confidentiality agreement by publicly discussing details about Hinds’ private life and the circumstances of his departure following his death. The three remaining founding members named in the suit—Brann Dailor, Bill Kelliher, and Troy Sanders—allegedly disclosed sensitive personal information about Hinds that he had maintained in confidence during his lifetime.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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