This YouTuber just performed with Mastodon with only days notice – following Brent Hinds’ surprise departure
Brent Hinds‘ departure from Mastodon last week came just days before the band were due to play at Tool‘s Tool in the Sand festival in the Dominican Republic on 9 March.
Needing a replacement guitarist, the band turned to YouTuber Ben Eller to fill the role at short notice.
READ MORE: Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds leaves band after 25 years: “We wish him nothing but success and happiness”
Mastodon’s sound relies heavily on their notable dual guitar parts, so filling that role with someone capable and doing it quickly probably felt like a near-impossible task. Obviously, what the band chose to share publicly doesn’t always reveal what’s going on behind closed doors, and the split may have been in the works for some time, but it seems like there was a pretty tight window in which to find someone suitable for the job.
Mid-set at Tool in the Sand, bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders lightheartedly quipped at Eller’s involvement. “Can you learn 17 Mastodon songs immediately?” he said.
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Ben Eller is known on YouTube for his informative videos and guitar lessons, including a full playlist of Mastodon lessons, which surely stood in his favour to land the slot performing with the band on Sunday.
While Hinds is yet to speak publicly regarding his departure from Mastodon, the band issued a short statement to announce it, which read:
“Friends and fans, after 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways. We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness for his future endeavours. We are still very inspired and excited to show up for fans in this next chapter of Mastodon. As we move forward, all 2025 touring plans will remain intact. We look forward to seeing you on the road.”
Ben Eller hasn’t posted any announcement or statement regarding his involvement with Mastodon just yet, and the band remain tight-lipped. It’s unclear whether he’s a temporary stand-in or will be joining the band full-time. The band will be co-headlining a tour with Coheed and Cambria with support from Periphery from 10 May, so there’s not too long to wait and see whether Eller will join Mastodon there, too.
The team here at Guitar.com will do our best to bring you more information as we have it.
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