Workhorse

I can’t say I’ve kept up with Mastodon for many years, but at one time in my life they were important. And they’ve always been there, whether I was paying attention or not.  

They were one of the first modern metal bands I got into, one of the first metal gigs I ever went to (solo bus journey at 16 across the desert, from Oman to Dubai Desert Rock fest. Got a ‘Blood Mountain’ shirt and wore the shit out of it for a long time, getting in trouble for it at school etc). Early teenage drug experiences were spent getting lost in the calmer, more otherworldly tracks off BM, and beyond. And then a short time later, catching them at Roundhouse nailing ‘Crack The Skye’ in full. After that I fell off with them as I moved onto other things.

But Brent in particular had been inspiring, empowering, to a kid living in the middle of nowhere, hungry for gnarly shit. His leads, his vocals, his tattoos all made a huge impression on me. I got the ‘Workhorse Chronicles’ dvd after seeing them at Desert Rock and the documentary made me want to be in a touring band. Brent looked like he was having the time of his life in the interviews and drunken road footage. It was more confirmation that this was the life for me. I longed to be a workhorse. 

The live footage made me want to play with the kind of intensity and conviction they had. Hellfest in 2003/4 or something - the power, the aggression, the sweat. Brent was a beast in that footage, red mane dripping, the ginger hellraiser dealing with the summer heat, panting as he introduced the track: ‘This next song is about work. Work fucking sucks’.

I didn’t know what to do with myself seeing it the first time, the energy was so raw, unrefined. Very unlike footage of their more polished, composed contemporaries. Mastodon gave it their all in that clip, you can feel the exhaustion, see them throw their bodies into it. Workhorses indeed. I would watch it on repeat and tear around my living room, doubled over head banging and growling, trying to match their intensity. 

That his fall from grace and firing from the band seems to have come over a meme he shared regarding the biggest show of their career, is both hilarious and tragic. It was likely the final straw after many years of rogue behaviour. But even that has some value - if they can’t take a joke, fuck em. But to die (understandably) angry, bitter, at 51 is tragic. 

So thanks, Brent. The spirit remained all these years, and will remain long after you’re gone. I too am now a workhorse.

Rest in power.