The Mars Volta: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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| origin = [[El Paso, Texas]], U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

* [[Progressive rock]]

* [[experimental rock]]

* [[post-hardcore]]

* [[psychedelic rock]]

* {{nowrap|[[art rock]]}}

* [[jazz fusion]]

}}

| years_active = {{flatlist|

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}}

| label = {{flatlist|

* [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]

* [[Gold Standard Laboratories|GSL]]

* [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]

* Clouds Hill

}}

| spinoff_of = {{flatlist|

* [[At the Drive-In]]

* [[De Facto (band)|De Facto]]

}}

~~| spinoff_of = {{hlist|[[At the Drive-In]]|[[De Facto (band)|De Facto]]}}~~

| current_members =

* [[Omar Rodríguez-López]]

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* [[Leo Genovese]]

* [[Linda-Philomène Tsoungui]]

| past_members =
* [[Isaiah "Ikey" Owens|Ikey Owens]]

* [[Jeremy Ward (musician)|Jeremy Ward]]

* [[Blake Fleming]]

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}}

'''The Mars Volta''' is an American [[~~progressive~~Rock music|rock]] band ~~from~~formed in [[El Paso, Texas]], formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are [[Omar Rodríguez-López]] (guitar, producer, direction) and [[Cedric Bixler-Zavala]] (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the band. The band's current line-up also includes founding member [[Eva Gardner]] (bass), Omar's brother [[Marcel ~~Rodriguez~~Rodríguez-~~Lopez~~López]] (keyboards, synths, percussion), [[Leo Genovese]] (piano, keyboard) and [[Linda-Philomène Tsoungui]] (drums).

Known for their energetic live shows and [[concept album]]s, The Mars Volta formed following the break-up of Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala's previous band, [[At the Drive-In]]. Seeking to experiment and expand their sound, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recruited Gardner, [[Isaiah "Ikey" Owens]] (keyboards), [[Jon Theodore]] (drums) and [[Jeremy Ward (musician)|Jeremy Ward]] (sound manipulation) to form The Mars Volta. The band released their debut EP, ''[[Tremulant (EP)|Tremulant]]'', in 2002, with Gardner leaving the band prior to recording their debut album, ''[[De-Loused in the Comatorium]]''. She was replaced by [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]' bass guitarist [[Flea (musician)|Flea]] for the sessions. The [[Rick Rubin]]-produced album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2003.

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===Formation and beginning (2001–2002)===

The roots of The Mars Volta are found in the band [[At the Drive-In]].<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-mars-volta-mn0000045560/biography|title=The Mars Volta – Biography|last=Fink|first=Matt|website=AllMusic|access-date=July 28, 2008}}</ref> ATDI imploded on the verge of a commercial breakthrough, partly due to boredom, partly to musical differences.<ref name="T">{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6529559.ece|title=The Mars Volta's unveil Octahedron|last=Eggar|first=Robin|date=June 21, 2009|website=The Sunday Times |access-date=March 25, 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Members [[Cedric Bixler-Zavala]] and [[Omar Rodríguez-López]] began to further explore their experimental, [[Dub music|dub]]-influenced [[side project]] called [[De Facto (band)|De Facto]], which featured Bixler-Zavala on drums, Rodríguez-López on bass, [[Isaiah "Ikey" Owens]] on keyboards, and [[Jeremy Ward (musician)|Jeremy Ward]] on vocals, loops and sound effects.

During 2001 [[Eva Gardner]] joined the members of De Facto on bass, and they recorded two songs with drummer [[Blake Fleming]] and producer Alex Newport, which became the first demo by The Mars Volta. The lineup for their first public show at Chain Reaction in [[Anaheim]], California was Rodríguez-López, Bixler-Zavala, Owens, Gardner, Ward, and drummer [[Jon Theodore]]. This lineup recorded three more tracks with Alex Newport, which became the [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Tremulant (EP)|Tremulant]]'', released in early 2002 by [[Gold Standard Laboratories]].

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===''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' (2003–2004)===

{{Main|De-Loused in the Comatorium~~{{!}}''De-Loused in the Comatorium''~~}}

Following ''Tremulant'', The Mars Volta continued touring with a fluid line-up while preparing to record their debut full-length album ''[[De-Loused in the Comatorium]]'', produced with [[Rick Rubin]] and released on June 24, 2003. Whereas ''Tremulant'' had no general theme (except the prophetic mentioning) ''De-Loused'' was a unified work of [[speculative fiction]] telling the first-person story of someone in a drug-induced coma, battling the evil side of his mind. Though lyrically obscure, The Mars Volta stated in interviews that the album's protagonist is based on their late friend Julio Venegas, or ''"Cerpin Taxt"'', an [[El Paso]] poet and artist who went into a coma for several years after a deliberate drug overdose, recovered and later committed suicide.<ref name="T"/> He died jumping from the Mesa Street overpass onto Interstate-10 in El Paso during afternoon rush-hour traffic.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} (Venegas' death was also referenced in the At the Drive-In song "Embroglio" from their album ''[[Acrobatic Tenement]]''.)

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===''Frances the Mute'' (2005)===

{{Main|Frances the Mute~~{{!}}''Frances the Mute''~~}}

As the band resumed touring to support ''De-Loused'', they added [[Marcel Rodríguez-López]] (Omar's brother) on percussion. Work on their second album began in 2004. That year the band received the [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]] Vanguard Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/vanguard/ |title=ASCAP Vanguard Award |publisher=ascap.com |access-date=October 15, 2011}}</ref>

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===''Amputechture'' (2006–2007)===

{{Main|Amputechture~~{{!}}''Amputechture''~~}}

Upon finishing the majority of touring for ''Frances the Mute'' in fall 2005, Rodríguez-López traveled to [[Amsterdam]] and wrote what became ''[[Amputechture]]'', which was released on September 8, 2006, in Europe, on September 9, 2006, in [[Australia]] and on September 12, 2006, in the U.S. Rodríguez-López spent much of his time in Amsterdam working on and performing various solo projects most notably under the name "[[Omar Rodríguez-López#The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group|Omar Rodriguez Quintet]]". During this time Rodríguez-López also composed the score to the film ''[[El Búfalo de la Noche (film)|El Búfalo de la Noche]]'', which was written and directed by [[Guillermo Arriaga]] and Jorge Hernandez Aldana respectively. The Mars Volta as a whole performed the score.

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===''The Bedlam in Goliath'' (2008)===

{{Main|The Bedlam in Goliath~~{{!}}''The Bedlam in Goliath''~~}}

[[File:Thomas Pridgen.JPG|thumb|left|[[Thomas Pridgen]] playing at the [[Roy Wilkins Auditorium]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]] on April 21, 2008]]

In 2007, Thomas Pridgen became the new permanent drummer for the band. Pridgen's first full-time appearance was at the March 12 show in New Zealand, where the band debuted the song "Idle Tooth" which was later renamed "[[Wax Simulacra]]" for the forthcoming album. After shows in New Zealand and Australia, The Mars Volta toured a few West Coast venues as the headliner, then entered the studio to record their fourth LP, ''[[The Bedlam in Goliath]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=152162&afterinter=true|title=The Mars Volta Records New Album at Ocean Way|date=June 15, 2007|website=News|publisher=Digital Producer|access-date=July 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518171120/http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=152162|archive-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref> One of these performances was captured in a live concert DVD (which remains unreleased) shot by director Jorge Hernandez Aldana.<ref name="TMVI">{{cite web|url=http://www.themarsvoltaitalia.com/omar_eng.htm|title=Interview With Omar Alfredo Rodriguez-Lopez|date=June 20, 2007|website=Interview|publisher=themarsvoltaitalia.com|access-date=July 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304150549/http://www.themarsvoltaitalia.com/omar_eng.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2011}}</ref>

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===''Octahedron'' (2009–2010)===

{{Main|Octahedron ~~(album){{!}}''Octahedron''~~ (album)}}

Omar Rodríguez-López had discussed the band's next album as early as January 2008, the month that ''The Bedlam in Goliath'' was released,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2528267.htm |title=triple j music news: New Mars Volta album in July |publisher=ABCnet.au |date=March 27, 2009 |access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> claiming "I consider it to be our acoustic album."<ref>{{cite news|last=Hyden |first=Steven |url=https://www.avclub.com/content/interview/omar_rodriguez_lopez_of_the |title=Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta | Music |newspaper=A.V. Club |access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> Cedric Bixler-Zavala had expressed an urge for the album to not be released on a major label.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16219 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525115224/http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16219 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |title=Mission to Mars – philadelphia weekly online |publisher=Philadelphiaweekly.com |date=July 14, 2008 |access-date=October 15, 2011 }}</ref> In February 2009, Rodríguez-López claimed "the next two Mars Volta records are already recorded and waiting for a release date."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2009/02/02/mars-volta-revel-in-records-grammy-nomination/ |title=Mars Volta Revel in Records, Grammy Nomination |publisher=Spinner |date=February 2, 2009 |access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref>

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===''Noctourniquet'' (2011–2012)===

{{Main|Noctourniquet~~{{!}}''Noctourniquet''~~}}

Shortly after ''Octahedron''{{'}}s release, Rodríguez-López claimed to have put the supposed follow-up "on hold" and was starting work on a completely new album. In an April 2010 interview with Rolling Stone, Rodríguez-López talked about trying to loosen his grip in the studio. He claimed to have finished writing the album, and was awaiting lyrics and vocals from Bixler-Zavala.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/;kw=%5B13193,132434%5D] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527144246/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/;kw=%5B13193,132434%5D|date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> Rodríguez-López spent most of 2010 focusing on his solo career, and little information regarding the sixth Mars Volta album was released. During this year drummer [[Deantoni Parks]] began touring with Rodríguez-López as well as appearing on several solo records, and Cathy Pellow of [[Sargent House Records]] confirmed that Parks was in talks to become the next drummer for The Mars Volta.

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===Reunion, ''The Mars Volta'' and ''Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón'' (2022–present)===

{{main|The Mars Volta ~~(album){{!}}''The Mars Volta''~~ (album)|Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón~~{{!}}''Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón''~~}}

On June 18, 2022, the band revealed the coordinates to a location in Los Angeles, California, where fans were allowed to preview new music from the band via an art installation called "L'ytome Hodorxí Telesterion".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |last2=Strauss |first2=Matthew |date=2022-06-21 |title=The Mars Volta Return With First New Song in 10 Years |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-mars-volta-return-with-first-new-song-in-10-years-listen/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> This was followed up by the release of the single "Blacklight Shine" and a tour announcement, marking both their first new music and first live shows in ten years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/mars-volta-blacklight-shine-new-song-video/|title=The Mars Volta Release Their First New Song in 10 Years, 'Blacklight Shine'|website=Loudwire|date=June 21, 2022 |language=en|access-date=June 12, 2022}}</ref><ref> {{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/themarsvolta/status/1539247300450652162/|title=The Mars Volta Tour 2022|website=Twitter|date=June 22, 2022 |language=en|access-date=June 22, 2022}}</ref> The band released a follow-up single "Graveyard Love" on July 8.<ref>{{cite web |last=Deville |first=Chris |title=The Mars Volta – 'Graveyard Love' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2192438/the-mars-volta-graveyard-love/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=11 July 2022 |date=8 July 2022}}</ref> The band subsequently announced their first album in 10 years, ''[[The Mars Volta (album)|The Mars Volta]]'', which was released on September 16.<ref name="TMV album">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-mars-volta-announce-first-album-in-a-decade-share-new-song-listen/|title=The Mars Volta Announce First Album in a Decade, Share New Song: Listen|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Corcoran|first=Nina|date=August 5, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> On March 10, 2023, the band announced an acoustic version of their self-titled album titled ''[[Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón]]'', which released on April 21.<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://twitter.com/themarsvolta/status/1634208340740898817 |url=https://twitter.com/themarsvolta/status/1634208340740898817 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

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|{{CSS image crop|Image=Cedric_Bixler-Zavala_-_At_the_Drive-In_-_Frequency_Festival_-_2017-08-15-18-43-28-0002.jpg|bSize=320|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=75|oLeft=120}}

|[[Cedric Bixler-Zavala]]

|lead vocals ~~percussion~~

|{{CSS image crop|Image=Eva_Gardner_2013.jpg|bSize=350|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=155|oLeft=60}}

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* ''[[Octahedron (album)|Octahedron]]'' (2009)}}

|{{CSS image crop|Image=Weezer - ~~2022154163809~~2022154163814 2022-06-03 Rock am Ring - Sven - 1D X MK II - ~~1199~~1211 - ~~B70I5753~~B70I5765.jpg|bSize=~~360~~385|cWidth=75|cHeight=75|oTop=3550|oLeft=~~125~~145}}

|Dave Elitch

|November 2009 – October 2010