Mastodon Played with Another Guitarist Onstage Last Night

Ever since Brent Hinds quit Mastodon back in March, there’s been a big question mark hanging over the band. Who’s going to take the spot for good? They tapped YouTuber and musician Ben Eller to fill in for ‘Tool Live In The Sand’, but that was never announced a permanent solution.

So when Mastodon hit the stage last night for their headlining gig in Chesterfield, Missouri, fans were left wondering who would be in Hinds’ place. That answer came when Canadian guitarist Nick Johnston took his spot on the stage, filling in on guitars for what can only be presumed as at least his temporary role with the band during their current touring plans until otherwise noted.

Note I said “presumed” because the band has yet to announce Johnston’s involvement as either a temporary fill-in or the new full-time guitarist for Mastodon. Until we hear directly from them, it’s not official.

As for Johnston himself, he’s got some credit previously touring with bands like Plini, Between The Buried And Me, while also receiving album credits with bands like Periphery, Polyphia, and Intervals, among others.

If you’d like to catch this new iteration of Mastodon, you’re going to have plenty of opportunities to do so this year. They’ve got a lot of touring to do, so whether it’s Johnston or someone else entirely, you can see their live show at any of the dates below.

Mastodon 2025 tour dates

5/9 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival
5/10 – Salem, VA @ Salem Civic Center*
5/11 – Knoxville, TN @ Knoxville Civic Coliseum*
5/13 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater* 
5/15 – Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park*
5/16 – Charleston, SC @ Firefly Distillery* 
5/15-5/18 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville
5/19 – Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena* 
5/21 – Huntsville, AL @ Orion Amphitheater*
5/22 – Lexington, KY  @Rupp Arena* 
5/24 @ Virginia Beach, VA @ The Dome*
5/25 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater*
5/26 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Broadview Stage at SPAC*
5/28 – Portland, ME @ Cross Insurance Arena* 
5/30 – Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview* 
5/31 – Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain* 
6/1 – Youngstown, OH @ Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre*
6/3 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum* 
6/4 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center Arena* 
6/6 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena* 
6/7 – Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center*
6/8 –  Waukee, IA @ Vibrant Music Hall*

Mastodon Only

7/3 – Cardiff, UK @ Blackweir Fields
7/5 – Birmingham, UK @ Villa Park %$ 
7/6 – London, UK @ Finsbury Park %
7/27 – Plovdiv, BUL @ Hills Of Rock
7/30 – Rasnov, Romania @ Rockstadt Extreme Fest
7/31 – Szekesfhervar, Hungary @ Fezen Festival
8/2 – Wacken, GER @ Wacken Open Air
8/3 – Luxembourg, LUX @ Den Atelier
8/5 – Katowice, POL @ MCK
8/6-9 – Jaromer, CZE @ Brutal Assault
8/8 – Kortrijk, Belgium @ Alcatraz Festival
8/10 – Walton-On-Trent @ Bloodstock Open Air
8/12 – Cologne, GER @ Carlswerk Victoria
8/13 – Frankfurt, GET @ Batschkapp
8/15 – Eindhoven, NET @ Dynamo Metalfest
8/14-16 Sulingen, GER @ Reload Festival

*w/ Coheed and Cambria
% w/ Slayer
$ w/ Ozzy Osbourne