Mastodon responds after Brent Hinds' estate sues the band
The estate claims Hinds was never bought out of his ownership share before his death and objects to the band's public comments and use of his likeness.
· Edited by Peter Luha
Credit: Consequence (via source)
Brent Hinds' estate has sued Mastodon's surviving members, and the band issued a public statement on September 11 denying any ill intent. Hinds, the band's co-founding guitarist, left Mastodon in March 2025 in a split the band called mutual but Hinds disputed; he died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta that August at age 51. The estate's civil complaint was filed in Fulton County court on September 3.
The lawsuit claims Hinds was never bought out of his ownership share in Mastodon and its related businesses before his death. Mastodon had issued a check for $80,000 to the estate as what the band described as an aggregate buyout of his interests, but never explained how that figure was calculated; the estate has not cashed it pending further accounting.
The estate is also suing over the band's use of Hinds' likeness to promote 'Marrow Deep', the album Mastodon released with new guitarist Nick Johnston, and objects to surviving members publicly discussing details of Hinds' private life since his death, including their comments that substance abuse contributed to his departure from the band.
Mastodon says it strongly denies allegations of ill intent and intends to vigorously defend what it calls a meritless lawsuit.
Why it matters
A dispute over ownership, likeness rights, and public comments about a former member touches directly on how bands and estates handle a guitarist's legacy after death.
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Sources
- https://blabbermouth.net/news/mastodon-issues-statement-on-lawsuit-filed-by-brent-hindss-estate-we-strongly-deny-allegations-of-ill-intent-on-our-part(primary)
- https://consequence.net/2026/09/estate-brent-hinds-files-lawsuit-against-mastodon/
- https://stereogum.com/2511083/mastodon-sued-by-brent-hinds-estate/news
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