Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have recruited Canadian musician Nick Johnston as their fill-in guitarist for their spring 2025 North American tour, which launched Thursday night (May 8) at The Factory in Chesterfield, Missouri. Johnston has stepped in following the departure of longtime MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds earlier this year.
When MASTODON performed at the Tool In The Sand festival in March, the band hired YouTuber and session musician Ben Eller to play second guitar.
MASTODON is scheduled to perform next at the Sonic Temple festival today (May 9) in Columbus, Ohio, before launching a co-headlining U.S. tour with COHEED AND CAMBRIA on Saturday (May 10) in Salem, Virginia.
Hailing from Toronto, Nick is known for his catchy, melody-driven instrumental music. With his guitar, Nick has been able to carve out his own unique style within a crowded landscape of instrumental guitarists. Nick is a firm believer that “you are what you eat” and that by listening to many different styles, a songwriter can be exposed to different harmonies, rhythms, time signatures and tones. This eclectic inspiration is evident in his sound, which ranges from blues to prog, to jazz, to gypsy, spanning anything and everything in-between. Though his style is ever evolving, his music is consistently detailed and technical while managing to be instantly recognizable as Nick Johnston.
Last year, Johnston released his seventh album, “Child Of Bliss”.
Since 2000, Hinds had served as lead guitarist and vocalist for MASTODON, alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, drummer Brann Dailor, and guitarist Bill Kelliher.
MASTODON‘s lineup had remained the same for 25 years, recording eight studio albums, beginning with 2002’s “Remission” until the band’s latest LP, 2021’s “Hushed And Grim”.
When MASTODON announced Brent‘s departure from the band on March 7, they wrote in a statement: “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 in his future endeavors.
“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.”
MASTODON has had nine Billboard 200-charting albums and has been nominated for a Grammy Award six times. The band won a “Best Metal Performance” Grammy for “Sultan’s Curse” in 2018.
MASTODON‘s latest album, “Hushed And Grim”, was a double LP recorded at the band’s Atlanta studio, West End Sound.
In December, MASTODON and COHEED AND CAMBRIA announced “The Infinite Arc” tour with special guests PERIPHERY. Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 20-city trek will cover the East Coast and Midwest before wrapping up in Waukee, Iowa on June 8.
Kelliher told Guitar World about Hinds‘s exit: “What can you say about the legacy of MASTODON‘s first 25 years with Brent? It’s been a fun, wild fucking ride, that’s for sure. We achieved a lot of things that I never in a million years would have imagined. There’s been Grammys, touring with our heroes, like IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD and TOOL. I cherish all of that.
“Like a marriage, sometimes people grow apart, and they get interested in other things,” he explained. “We wish nothing but the best for Brent in chasing his dreams.”
Touching upon the musical and personal chemistry between MASTODON‘s longtime members, Bill said: “You know, it’s amazing that we made it 25 years with the four of us. I mean, it’s like being married to three other dudes, traveling the world, trying to stay the course, and having everybody agree. That we managed to do it this long, I feel like that’s a feat in itself. You could never replace any of us because we [are the] the sum of four parts. That doesn’t mean there’s not someone else out there that has stuff to offer in a new direction. I think I’ll just leave it there, you know? It was a hard decision we all had to make. It’s just… it was just time.”
Photo courtesy of Hold Tight
Source: blabbermouth.net
