Mastodon have recruited a new touring guitarist – and it’s not Ben Eller
The guitarist is a Schecter artist, and has released six solo albums.
Image: Scott Legato / Getty
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Mastodon have recruited a new touring guitarist following the departure of Brent Hinds, and it’s not Ben Eller.
Eller, a guitarist known for his popular YouTube channel, stepped in for Hinds as the band played at Tool’s Tool in the Sand festival in the Dominican Republic on 9 March following his exit just a couple of days prior. However, it looks as though Eller may not remain as a permanent member.
Instead, Canadian musician Nick Johnston is now the band’s fill-in guitarist for their live shows, having made his first appearance with the Mastodon crew on the first night of their spring US tour on 8 May in Chesterfield, Missouri. Johnston has six solo records under his belt, and has also worked with Polyphia, Guthrie Govan, Periphery, and many more. He has also released a number of signature models and a pickup set with Schecter.
The band is now currently on a co-headlining US tour with Coheed and Cambria – which kicked off on Saturday 10 May in Salem, Virginia – for which they also have Periphery in tow as special guests. Though Mastodon themselves haven’t commented on Johnston’s appointment, it’s likely he will be sticking with them for the remaining shows on this stint, which runs until 8 June.
Following Hinds’ exit in March, Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher discussed their search for a new band mate with Guitar World. He told the outlet they were looking for “someone who is easy to get along with, and who really has a desire to play – and can play well”.
“Obviously, you gotta be somebody who we all get along with and can stand the true test of time. Like, living together in a little tour bus on the road for fucking days and months at a time, it’s got to be someone who can do all that.” He added, “We’ve got to be able to sit down and have a beer with them, go out to dinner with them, you know, feel them out, and make sure they’re Mastodon material.”
You can view the full list of the band’s co-headlining tour dates via the official Mastodon website.
Rachel began writing for Guitar.com in 2021 while finishing up her degree. A proud DIY guitarist, she has been playing for over 10 years and has written for the likes of Kerrang!, The Forty-Five, and MusicTech. An enjoyer of all things heavy, you’ll find her at a festival or downtuning her guitars when away from her desk.