Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has shared a heartfelt tribute to his late bandmate Brent Hinds, who died last week at the age of 51 following a motorcycle accident. In a new social media post, Kelliher reflected on their 25-year relationship and acknowledged the profound loss of his friend.
“It’s been hard to get a grip on my emotions this week,” Kelliher wrote in his statement. He spoke about the ups and downs of their long collaboration, which began with a physical altercation 25 years ago but evolved into a strong bond. “All that we accomplished after that first fistfight in the van 25 years ago,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d be taken from us like this, absolute loss of a true one of a kind guitar wizard extraordinaire.”
Kelliher’s statement highlights Hinds‘ unique personality and immense talent. He affectionately called him a “brother” and a “wild man not to be tamed,” and also praised his extraordinary skill on the guitar. He said: “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 f**k up a bowling ball with a feather.”
The guitarist also touched on the imperfect nature of their relationship, while emphasizing the deep love they shared. He concluded his tribute by promising that Hinds‘ spirit would live on through his music. “You weren’t perfect but you were always DIRTY-B!! Your vagabond/gypsy/wild child lives on through your music, I will miss your crazy a** Manimal,” he said.
The tribute from Kelliher follows a similar public eulogy from Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, who spoke about Hinds‘ death during the band’s performance at the Alaska State Fair on August 22. Dailor called Hinds “one of the most creative, beautiful people that we’ve ever come across in this world” and said that despite their ups and downs, they were “brothers to the end.”
Bill Kelliher full statement is below:
“It’s been hard to get a grip on my emotions this week. 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 f**k up bowling ball with a feather.
You weren’t perfect but you were always DIRTY-B!! Your vagabond/gypsy/wild child lives on through your music, I will miss your crazy a** Manimal”
Hinds was killed on August 20 in Atlanta when his motorcycle was struck by an SUV. According to police reports, the driver of the SUV failed to yield while making a left turn. Hinds was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical workers.
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