Estate of Late Guitarist Brent Hinds Sues Mastodon

The estate of late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has filed a lawsuit against the band's surviving members, alleging financial mismanagement and unauthorized use of his likeness. The civil complaint, filed on September 3 in Fulton County Court, Georgia, centers on two primary disputes: an unresolved buyout of Hinds' business interests and the use of his image on the band's latest album. According to the lawsuit, Mastodon issued a check for $80,000 to buy out Hinds' share in the band and its related companies following his departure in March 2025. The estate claims this amount was not supported by a full accounting and has declined to cash the check pending a review of what Hinds' interests were actually worth. The suit states that Hinds never signed a separation agreement before his death in a motorcycle accident in August 2025, and therefore retained his ownership stake. The second major allegation involves the artwork for Mastodon's 2026 album, "Marrow Deep." The estate contends that a recognizable image of Hinds was placed on the album cover without permission to promote the record and associated merchandise.