
Feature Photo: Bruteforce7700, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Hinder formed in Oklahoma City in 2001 around lead singer Austin Winkler, guitarist Joe “Blower” Garvey, and drummer Cody Hanson. The group began writing original material after Hanson and Garvey heard Winkler performing at a college party. Bassist Cole Parker joined during the band’s earliest recording period, helping complete the independent EP Far from Close in 2003.
After Parker’s departure, Hinder added bassist Mike Rodden and rhythm guitarist Mark King. The expanded lineup signed with Universal Records and released Extreme Behavior in 2005. “Get Stoned” introduced the band to rock radio, while “Lips of an Angel” became an international hit and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The album eventually earned triple-platinum certification in the United States.
The Austin Winkler lineup continued through Take It to the Limit, All American Nightmare, and Welcome to the Freakshow. Hinder combined post-grunge guitar riffs, arena-rock choruses, acoustic ballads, and lyrics centered on relationships, excess, regret, and survival. Extensive touring helped the group maintain a large audience even as mainstream rock radio changed during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Winkler left Hinder in 2013. Jared Weeks of Saving Abel and Nashville singer Nolan Neal handled temporary live and recording duties while the group considered its next direction. Marshal Dutton, who had already worked with Hinder as a songwriter and producer, became the permanent lead vocalist in 2015.
With Dutton, Hinder released When the Smoke Clears, the acoustic EP Stripped, and The Reign. Mark King later departed after a long tenure, leaving Garvey, Hanson, Rodden, and Dutton as the band’s official core lineup. Touring guitarist Justin Shipley has supplied rhythm guitar and backing vocals during the group’s recent concert activity.
Hinder returned with Back to Life in May 2025, its first studio album in nearly eight years. The thirteen-song record included “Live Without It,” “Everything Is a Cult,” “Bring Me Back to Life,” and “Bad Decisions.” The band remained active on the road in 2026, including dates connected to Staind’s Break the Cycle anniversary tour.
Austin John Winkler
Austin John Winkler co-founded Hinder in 2001 and served as the band’s lead singer through 2013. His raspy voice, emotional delivery, and songwriting partnership with Cody Hanson became central to Hinder’s original identity.
Winkler appeared on Far from Close and the first four studio albums: Extreme Behavior, Take It to the Limit, All American Nightmare, and Welcome to the Freakshow. He sang the band’s best-known early songs, including “Get Stoned,” “Lips of an Angel,” “Better Than Me,” “How Long,” “Use Me,” “Without You,” and “Save Me.”
His performance on “Lips of an Angel” gave Hinder its largest crossover success. The song’s combination of acoustic guitar, conversational verses, and a large power-ballad chorus made it one of the defining mainstream rock singles of the mid-2000s.
After leaving Hinder, Winkler pursued solo work and released the EP Love Sick Radio. He later issued additional singles and recordings under his own name and through the project The Founder.
Joe “Blower” Garvey
Joe “Blower” Garvey co-founded Hinder and has remained the band’s lead guitarist throughout its career. His playing combines hard-rock riffs, blues-based leads, melodic hooks, and the straightforward rhythmic power associated with arena rock.
Garvey appeared on every Hinder studio album from Extreme Behavior through Back to Life. His guitar work helped define songs including “Get Stoned,” “How Long,” “Use Me,” “All American Nightmare,” “What Ya Gonna Do,” and “Live Without It.”
He has also contributed backing vocals and shared rhythm responsibilities when Hinder has performed without a permanent second guitarist. Garvey remains one of the three founding musicians in the current official lineup.
Cody Hanson
Cody Hanson co-founded Hinder as drummer and became one of the group’s principal songwriters, producers, and business leaders. His partnership with Austin Winkler shaped much of the band’s first four albums, while his later work with Marshal Dutton guided Hinder through its second major era.
Hanson’s drumming favors strong backbeats, direct fills, and arrangements designed to support large choruses. He has played on every Hinder release and co-written many of the group’s most familiar songs.
He and Dutton established Back Lounge Productions and worked together on songwriting, preproduction, recording, and mixing. Their studio partnership became especially important after Winkler’s departure, allowing Hinder to continue developing new material without abandoning its established sound.
Cole Parker
Cole Parker was Hinder’s first bassist and joined during the group’s early independent period. He played on the 2003 EP Far from Close, which helped the band attract label attention before its major-label debut.
Parker’s tenure ended before the recording of Extreme Behavior. Mike Rodden replaced him and became Hinder’s long-term bassist.
Mike Rodden
Mike Rodden joined Hinder after playing in the Oklahoma City band Shade Seven. His arrival, along with rhythm guitarist Mark King, completed the lineup that recorded Extreme Behavior.
Rodden has appeared on all seven Hinder studio albums and provides bass guitar and backing vocals. His playing gives the group a steady low-end foundation beneath Cody Hanson’s drums and Joe Garvey’s guitar work.
As one of Hinder’s longest-serving members, Rodden remained through the transition from Austin Winkler to Marshal Dutton and continues as part of the official four-member lineup.
Mark King
Mark King joined Hinder as rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist before the band recorded Extreme Behavior. His guitar parts strengthened the group’s live sound and allowed Joe Garvey to concentrate on lead work, solos, and melodic accents.
King appeared throughout the Austin Winkler era and continued on When the Smoke Clears and The Reign. He also contributed piano, string arrangements, and studio production work.
After nearly two decades with Hinder, King left the lineup. Garvey subsequently handled more rhythm guitar, while Justin Shipley joined the touring group.
Marshal Dutton
Marshal Dutton became Hinder’s permanent lead vocalist in 2015, but his relationship with the band began years earlier. He first toured with Hinder through his former group Faktion and later became a songwriter, producer, guitarist, and studio collaborator.
Dutton worked with Cody Hanson during the creation of All American Nightmare and Welcome to the Freakshow. When Austin Winkler became unavailable for touring in 2013, Dutton handled several temporary performances before Hinder used other guest singers.
As frontman, Dutton has appeared on When the Smoke Clears, Stripped, The Reign, and Back to Life. His voice has a cleaner and more melodic character than Winkler’s, giving the later albums a different identity while retaining the large choruses and hard-rock foundation associated with Hinder.
Dutton also plays guitar and shares production responsibilities with Hanson. Their long-running creative partnership has made him important to both Hinder’s performance lineup and its recording process.
Jared Weeks
Jared Weeks, the founding singer of Saving Abel, became Hinder’s touring lead vocalist after Austin Winkler left the road in 2013. Weeks stepped in after Marshal Dutton handled the first temporary dates and allowed the band to complete existing concert commitments.
His time with Hinder was brief and limited to live performances. Weeks later returned to Saving Abel after pursuing solo work.
Nolan Neal
Nolan Neal worked with Hinder during the search for a permanent replacement for Austin Winkler. He performed with the band during 2014 and sang the original released version of “Hit the Ground.”
Hinder ultimately selected Marshal Dutton as its permanent frontman, and “Hit the Ground” was recorded again for When the Smoke Clears. Neal continued his solo career and later appeared on The Voice and America’s Got Talent. He died in 2022.
Justin Shipley
Justin Shipley has served as Hinder’s touring rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist during the band’s modern era. His history with the organization extends beyond his current stage role, including earlier work as a guitar and bass technician and occasional instrumental substitute.
Shipley became especially important after Mark King’s departure, allowing Hinder to preserve the two-guitar arrangements of its catalog in concert. He toured during the Back to Life period and continues to support the official four-member core lineup.
Josh Kulack
Josh Kulack performed as a touring guitarist and backing vocalist with Hinder during 2022. His tenure was brief and occurred before Justin Shipley became the regular second guitarist in the band’s recent live configuration.
Hinder Studio Albums
Extreme Behavior (2005)
Take It to the Limit (2008)
All American Nightmare (2010)
Welcome to the Freakshow (2012)
When the Smoke Clears (2015)
The Reign (2017)
Back to Life (2025)
Hinder EPs
Far from Close (2003)
Stripped (2016)
More Hinder Articles
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Complete List Of Hinder Albums And Discography
Top 10 Hinder Songs
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Updated August 1, 2026.
Complete List Of Hinder Band Members article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026



























