On Sunday, March 9, Ben Eller, a YouTuber and session musician, performed with Atlanta progressive metal band MASTODON at the “Tool Live In The Sand” destination festival, which took place at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Royalton Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
“What an amazing weekend playing with @mastodonrocks as part of @toolinthesand,” he wrote on Instagram. Being asked to play with the band is a TRUE honor, as those of you who have been following me for a while are aware of how much I adore this music. It means so much to me to see your encouraging and kind remarks for me out there! I can’t possibly reply to everything in my email, but please know how much I value each and every one of you. Thank you to everyone who trusted me to complete the task, especially Troy, @creamale, and @billy_butterslax. It was enjoyable to play the parts of one of my all-time favorite guitarists, even though it’s not a simple assignment. “Cheers to all of you!”
Eller was hired by MASTODON to replace founding guitarist Brent Hinds, who was set to leave the band on March 7.
Tennessee-born guitarist and bassist Eller has become well-known for his amazing skills on his “This Is Why You Suck At Guitar” guitar instruction series.
Eller had a lot of free time after completing his schoolwork because he was homeschooled. When his older brother brought home some classic METALLICA records, including “Ride The Lighting” and “Master Of Puppets,” he became addicted to playing the guitar at the age of sixteen. After listening to guitar virtuosos like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Eddie Van Halen, Eller decided to share his newly discovered passion and curiosity for learning with other guitar enthusiasts. At first, all he wanted to do was learn how to play his favorite songs by WEEZER, SILVERCHAIR, and the FOO FIGHTERS.
When Eller isn’t teaching guitar for his social media accounts, he’s busy performing live in a number of bands, including the southern blues-rock group KENNEDY WOOD BAND, the 1980s hair metal tribute SKANKBANGER, and laying down guitar and bass with Andy Wood’s instrumental project. Along with contributing leads for their self-titled album and the albums “Our Endless War” and “Mark Of The Blade,” he has also played as a guest guitarist for the deathcore group WHITECHAPEL.
Eller began posting videos to YouTube in 2010 and launched the well-liked series “This Is Why You Suck At Guitar” in 2013. He has since produced well over 200 episodes of his weekly “Weekend Wankshop” lecture series.
In a statement announcing Brent’s exit from the band, MASTODON said: “Friends and Fans, MASTODON and Brent Hinds have amicably chosen to split after 25 incredible years together.
“We wish him all the best in his future pursuits and are incredibly pleased and appreciative of the music and history we have shared.
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“We are still incredibly motivated and thrilled to be present for the fans in this upcoming MASTODON chapter. All of our plans for the 2025 tour will not change as we proceed. We hope to meet you soon on the road.
Alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, drummer Brann Dailor, and rhythm guitarist Bill Kelliher, Hinds had been the featured vocalist and main guitarist for MASTODON since 2000.
Between 2002’s “Remission” and their most recent album, “Hushed And Grim” from 2021, MASTODON’s lineup stayed the same for 25 years, releasing eight studio albums.
MASTODON has received six Grammy Award nominations and nine albums that have peaked at number 200 on the Billboard charts. In 2018, the band’s song “Sultan’s Curse” earned them a Grammy for “Best Metal Performance”.
The joint song “Floods Of Triton” by MASTODON and LAMB OF GOD was made available in September 2024. Loma Vista Recordings released the song, which was recorded before the two bands’ “Ashes Of Leviathan” summer 2024 tour began.
The double LP “Hushed And Grim” was recorded at West End Sound, the band’s studio in Atlanta. With 15 different tracks, it was MASTODON’s most extensive song cycle to date and was produced by David Bottrill (TOOL, RUSH, MUSE, PETER GABRIEL). The song “Pushing The Tides” received MASTODON a Grammy Award nomination, and the band made their third consecutive No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. A further indication of the band’s broad popularity is the fact that the album’s single “Teardrinker” peaked in the top 10 on the rock radio charts.
Recorded at MASTODON’s own West End Sound in Atlanta, “Floods Of Triton” was produced by MASTODON and Tyler Bates, who is well-known for his work on the soundtracks to films like “John Wick,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “MaXXXine,” and others.
The “The Infinite Arc” tour, with special guests PERIPHERY, was announced by MASTODON and COHEED AND CAMBRIA in December. The 20-city journey, which is produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, begins in Salem, Virginia, on May 10 and travels through the East Coast and Midwest before ending on June 8 in Waukee, Iowa.
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