Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor has opened up about the band’s decision to bring in Nick Johnston as their new guitarist following Brent Hinds’ exit, sharing his thoughts in a recent interview.
Dailor reflected on Hinds’ legacy with the band and what drew Mastodon to Johnston as his successor, despite the stylistic differences between the two guitarists.
When asked, “And you went for Nick Johnston to replace Brent Hinds, a guitarist with a very different style to Brent,” Dailor responded by first paying tribute to his former bandmate before addressing the choice of Johnston.
“Yeah, we picked him for a reason. He’s a very original player, and that’s what we would always look for. You’re never going to replace Brent Hinds. The guy was a musical genius and he wrote some of the most beautiful compositions I’ve ever heard,” Dailor said.
He then spoke about the personal bond he shared with Hinds.
“Brent and I had a very special relationship. I could always feel where he was coming from the most, and when we would dig in on a riff together, it’d feed my soul. Brent was one of my true loves in music, and the feeling was mutual. We both had an endless amount of respect for each other’s playing,” Dailor continued.
Turning to Johnston, Dailor expressed optimism about the guitarist’s future with the band.
“I feel that with Nick as well, I just really fell in love with his playing and I know there’s so much more that we can do. This is just the tip of the iceberg, because he came in after the songs were already in motion,” he said.
Johnston’s arrival came at a turbulent time for Mastodon. The circumstances surrounding his addition to the lineup shed further light on just how significant a transition the band has been navigating.
Hinds parted ways with Mastodon in March 2025 after 25 years with the band, with both sides describing it as a mutual split. The situation took a tragic turn just five months later when Hinds died in a motorcycle accident in August 2025. This added a heavy layer of grief to what was already a major lineup shake-up.
Johnston, a Canadian guitarist known for his instrumental solo work, stepped in as Mastodon’s touring guitarist shortly after Hinds’ departure. His role within the band has only grown since. Bandmate Bill Kelliher has confirmed that Mastodon’s upcoming album will feature guitar parts written and recorded by Johnston, effectively cementing his status as a full-time member rather than a temporary fill-in.
That album, “Marrow Deep,” marks Mastodon’s first full-length release without Hinds. It also introduces keyboardist João Nogueira, expanding the band into a five-piece lineup. Bassist Troy Sanders has spoken about how naturally Johnston fit into the creative process, noting that the band is now more collaborative than ever.
Johnston himself has been candid about his approach to joining a band with such deep history, making clear he never set out to imitate his predecessor. “I’m not here to fill Brent’s shoes. I want to help write the future of Mastodon,” Johnston said. This sentiment echoes Dailor’s own comments about looking for originality rather than replication in the band’s newest guitarist.
