The 68th Annual Grammy Awards may have celebrated the “Prince of Darkness,” but the rock and metal community is seeing red after the Recording Academy omitted Mastodon guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds from its televised In Memoriam segment.
Despite a star-studded tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne earlier in the night, the exclusion of Hinds—a foundational figure in modern progressive metal—has sparked a wave of backlash led by Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez.
“Big Party Foul”: The Metal Community Reacts
Taking to Instagram shortly after the February 1st ceremony, Mike Inez didn’t mince words regarding the Academy’s oversight. Posting to his followers, Inez wrote:
“BIG party foul Grammys for forgetting the MIGHTY Brent Hinds in the In Memoriam. #mastodon.”
The post quickly became a rallying point for industry veterans. Exodus and Slayer guitarist Gary Holt added a blunt “LAME” in the comments, while Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor signaled his agreement with fire emojis.
A History of Grammy Snubs
For many fans, this omission feels like a recurring theme. While the Academy dedicated significant airtime to a glossy Ozzy Osbourne tribute—featuring Post Malone, Slash, Duff McKagan, Chad Smith, and Andrew Watt—the televised memorial reel often fails to represent the broader spectrum of heavy music.
Brent Hinds, who tragically passed away last August at age 51 following a motorcycle accident, was no stranger to the Recording Academy’s stage. During his tenure with Mastodon, the band earned:
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6 Grammy Nominations
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1 Grammy Win (Best Metal Performance in 2022 for “Pushing The Tides”)
The fact that a recent Grammy winner was overlooked suggests a persistent “tunnel vision” within the industry, according to critics.
![Mastodon - Pushing the Tides [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/haT5ars6RXc/maxresdefault.jpg)
Was It a Broadcast Edit?
The Recording Academy typically maintains a more exhaustive list of deceased industry members on their website, and there is a possibility that Hinds was included in the non-televised “long-form” scroll.
However, for a genre that often feels sidelined by major networks, the failure to include a 21st-century innovator in the main broadcast has left a bitter taste.
As of Monday morning, the Recording Academy has not issued an official statement regarding the omission.
#Brent Hinds
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