Alice In Chains’ Mike Inez Rips Grammys for “In Memoriam” Snub of Mastodon’s Brent Hinds

Metal fans who tuned in to Sunday night’s Grammy Awards may have been left wondering why late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds was left off the “In Memoriam” segment during the televised ceremony. Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez is one of them, crying “foul” on the Recording Academy for the apparent omission.

The notable artists and music-industry personnel who passed away over the past year were shown during a series of tribute performances, with most of the hard rock and metal musicians displayed during an all-star tribute to Ozzy Osbourne led by Post Malone and Slash.

Late artists like KISS legend Ace Frehley, Blondie drummer Clem Burke, and Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs all appeared on the big screen, but Hinds was nowhere to be seen. The cameras cut away to close-ups of the Ozzy tribute performance, so there’s a small chance that Hinds was acknowledged, but unlikely as the broadcast cut to a wide shot each time a new artist was shown on the screen.

“BIG party foul Grammys for forgetting the MIGHTY Brent Hinds in the In Memoriam,” wrote Inez on Instagram. Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor commented with four fire emojis, while Exodus/Slayer guitarist Gary Holt added, “LAME.”

While Hinds is mentioned in the “In Memoriam” section of the Grammy website, his omission from the broadcast is highly questionable. He received six Grammy nominations as a member of Mastodon over the years, and won in 2018 for Best Metal Performance (“Sultan’s Curse”).

Sadly, Hinds died in August of last year at the age of 51 when his motorcycle collided with an SUV in Atlanta. Mastodon had parted ways with the guitarist a few months earlier after he spent 25 years in the band.