Band Information
Music Style: Progressive Rock, Experimental RockCountry:United StatesYear: 2001- PresentWebsite: www.themarsvolta.com
Line-up
CURRENT
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – guitar, production(2001-present)Cedric Bixler-Zavala – lyrics, vocals (2001-present)Isaiah IkeyOwens – keyboards (2001-present)Juan Alderete – electric bass(2003-present)Thomas Pridgen – drums (2007-present)Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez –percussion, synthesizers (2003-present)Paul Hinojos – guitar, soundmanipulation (2005-present)
FORMER
Eva GardnerJeremy Ward (deceased)Jon Theodore
Biography
The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock band thathails from Long Beach, California. The band is known for their energetic andimprovised live shows as well as for their concept-based studio albums.Generally considered as a progressive rock band, Mars Volta is known for theirmusic with punk, jazz and Latin music influences.
The Mars Volta stemmed out from being a side project ofCedric Bixler Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, members of the band At theDrive-In. This side project was then known as the band De Facto. The sideproject became Mars Volta in 2001 when Bixler Zavala and Rodriguez-Lopezdecided to end their stint as members of At the Drive-In, citing creativesuffocation and frustration over the band’s growing success on themainstream.
The band’s first album was De-Loused in the Comatorium, anLP released on June of 2003. The album became a hit, both critically andcommercially, selling over 500,000 copies despite very limited promotion givento it. This was followed by Frances the Mute, the band’s second album that wasreleased in 2005. It was also well received commercially, able to sell 123,000copies in its first week and debuting at the fourth spot on the Billboard Albumcharts.
Next came Amputechture which was released in September of 2006. The albumdebuted at the ninth spot on the Billboard Top 200 for selling 59,000 copies onits initial week of release. So far, their fourth album, The Bedlam in Goliathwhich was released on January of 2008, became the band’s most successful todate, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200.
Discography
De-Loused in the Comatorium (June 24, 2003)Frances the Mute(March 1, 2005)Amputechture (September 12, 2006)The Bedlam in Goliath (January29, 2008)
Image Source: Wikipedia