It has been revealed that the late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds contributed one of his final recorded guitar solos to a newly released track by Southern country rocker Marcus King. The posthumous performance appears on the song “Red Door,” which serves as the closing track on the companion release No Room For Blue.
The collection of songs originally debuted as a Black Friday Record Store Day physical exclusive last fall. The tracks only recently became widely available on digital streaming platforms on May 1, bundled alongside the 2025 studio album Darling Blue. Because the late guitarist was not prominently credited on the official digital release, his blistering contribution to the song went largely overlooked by the general public over the last few weeks.
The collaboration was officially brought to light on Tuesday, May 19, by the custom instrument makers at Banker Handcrafted Guitars, as reported by Revolver. Having worked closely with the musician in the past, the company took to social media to set the record straight and shine a well-deserved spotlight on his playing. Providing context to the intense tracking process, Banker Handcrafted Guitars shared the following full statement detailing the marathon sessions at the legendary Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia:
“For those who may not know, this song you are listening to has one of the last guitar solos Brent Hinds recorded. He slept on the living room couch for a week (or two, whose counting) with The Marcus King Band at the house they rented down in Macon, Georgia while they were writing and recording their latest record, Darlin’ Blue at the legendary Capricorn Studios.”
“The final song on the companion release titled ‘Red Door‘ was one that Brent collaborated and performed on. Ever the stubborn perfectionist, he managed to do 278 takes before landing on the one he liked best. These are some photos I took while hanging out and watching it all unfold for a couple of days.”
The musical partnership between the two artists was built on a preexisting friendship. The pair previously collaborated publicly during a 2020 livestream, where they jammed on a cover of the Black Sabbath classic “Electric Funeral.” Following the tragic news of the guitarist’s death last year, Marcus King was among the numerous peers who publicly shared heartfelt tributes to honor their fallen friend.
Brent Hinds passed away in a fatal motorcycle crash on August 20, 2025, at the age of 51. Reports indicate he was traveling between 63 and 68 mph, roughly twice the speed limit, when the crash occurred. Officers found him alive but injured at the scene; he later died at Grady Memorial Hospital. His tragic death occurred just months after a highly publicized and bitter split from his longtime bandmates in Mastodon.
