Bill Kelliher from Mastodon has publicly reflected on his relationship with deceased guitarist Brent Hinds, describing a "competitive" and ultimately strained partnership that lasted 25 years. Hinds died in a motorcycle accident in August 2025, several months after dramatically exiting the band and accusing his former bandmates of being "horrible humans", highlighting the deep conflict within one of rock's most influential progressive metal bands.

In a recent Guitarist interview, Kelliher explained that their songwriting collaboration was perpetually competitive and difficult, with Hinds eventually losing interest in the band's creative output. Kelliher characterised Hinds as talented but "dangerous" with a "self-destructive streak"; whilst Hinds' unpredictability had defined Mastodon's early sound, it became untenable over time. Kelliher revealed he shouldered most of the writing burden and constantly worried about Hinds' approval, describing his departure as "a big weight had been lifted". The conflict has now escalated further, as Hinds' estate has recently filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming inadequate compensation following his departure.