Mike Inez Blasts the GRAMMYs for Not Featuring Brent Hinds in the ‘In Memoriam’ Segment

Though there was a lot of good will felt during the Ozzy Osbourne segment during this year’s ‘In Memoriam’ segment during the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, one snub really rubbed metalheads the wrong way. You see, one man that was left off the segment was ex-Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds — and that really pissed off Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez.

In a post on his Instagram, Inez called out the folks behind the GRAMMYs, pointing out the glaring omission from a segment that included ex-KISS guitarist Ace Frehley and the aforementioned star-studded tribute to Ozzy.

“BIG party foul Grammys for forgetting the MIGHTY Brent Hinds in the In Memoriam. #mastodon”

Hinds’ former bandmate Brann Dailor responded to Inez’s comments with four fire emojis, while Exodus guitarist Gary Holt simply added “LAME” to the conversation. Pearl Aday, daughter of legendary rocker Meatloaf, chimed in as well, noting that the GRAMMYs “failed to acknowledge my father the year he passed.”

In Hinds’ case, there’s a chance that his image was shown during the Ozzy tribute while the camera was focused on the performers, but that just means his moment in recognition wasn’t broadcast on television. I don’t know about you, but in a segment that deals with the folks that died in the last year, maybe less of the focus should be on the living performers.

Hinds passed away on August 20, 2025 after he was involved in a car crash while riding his Harley Davidson. According to an official police report of the accident, Hinds was hit by an SUV that failed to yield while turning at the intersection of Memorial Drive SE and Boulevard SE, which is near downtown Atlanta. Officers found him alive and breathing but unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital. He was 51.

Hinds was an original member of Mastodon since the band’s inception in 2000, where he helped shape the band’s unique sound and style. Having been featured on every one of the band’s albums, it all came as a shock when he was kicked out of the band last March. During the weeks that followed, Hinds did not hold back on his frustration and anger toward his former bandmates, despite the band’s original statement that all parties “mutually agreed to part ways.”

It should be noted that Hinds is listed on the GRAMMY’s ongoing ‘In Memoriam’ page, which indicates that Hinds won an award with Mastodon. It’s just wild that they would snub someone that actually won a fuckin’ Grammy. So shitty, but he’s not the first potential metal snub on the segment and likely won’t be the last.