The Mars Volta is an American progressive rock group formed in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala. They incorporate various influences including punk rock, jazz fusion, funk and Latin/Salsa into their sound.
They are known for their energetic and improvisational live shows, as well as their concept-based studio albums. In 2009, the band won a Grammy in the "Best Hard Rock Performance" category for the song "Wax Simulacra." They were named rock music's "Best Prog-Rock Band" by Rolling Stone magazine in 2008.
Band name
Cedric Bixler-Zavala stated in an interview:
The Volta is taken from a Federico Fellini book about his films, what he characterizes as a changing of scene, or a turnaround; a new scene to him is called Volta. Y'know, changing of time and the changeover. And Mars, we're just fascinated by science-fiction so and it's something that ultimately looked as in anything I write, its meaning is always up to the listener. As the way we write songs and words, if it looks great on paper then to us it's like painting, so if it looks good meaning the second then people usually have a better interpretation than we ever would. The definite article "The" is used to distinguish the band from a group of European techno artists that previously used the name "Mars Volta."
Band members
According to the liner notes for Amputechture and The Bedlam in Goliath: "The partnership between Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Cedric Bixler-Zavala is The Mars Volta. These compositions are then performed by The Mars Volta Group."
Current
* Omar Rodriguez-Lopez – guitar, production (2001–present)
* Cedric Bixler-Zavala – lyrics, vocals (2001–present)
* Isaiah Ikey Owens – keyboards (2001–present)
* Juan Alderete – electric bass (2003–present)
* Thomas Pridgen – drums (2007–present)
* Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez – percussion, synthesizers (2003–present)
* Adrián Terrazas-González – flute, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, and additional wind and percussion instruments (2004 in studio, 2005-present)
* Paul Hinojos – guitar, sound manipulation (touring member, 2003-2004: officially, 2005–present)
* John Frusciante - guitar (2002-present in studio). Although Frusciante is not officially a member, he continues to make significant contributions in the recording studio.
Former
Sound Manipulators
* Jeremy Michael Ward – (2001–2003)
Drummers
* Jon Theodore – (2001–July 2006)
* Blake Fleming – (August 2001, July–August 2006)
* Deantoni Parks – (August–November 2006)
Bassists
* Eva Gardner – (2001–2002)
* Ralph Jasso – (2002)
* Jason Lader – (2003)
* Flea – (2003, on De-Loused in the Comatorium)
Keyboardists
* Linda Good – (2002)
The Mars Volta Group
According to the band's official website and the sleeve notes of Scabdates, there are fifteen more people that are a part of "The Mars Volta Group." Thirteen of these are:
* Henry Trejo – Rodriguez Lopez's guitar tech
* Amery "Awol" Smith – production manager
* Jesse Isaacs – Owens' tech, Hinojos's guitar tech, stage manager
* Jerry Riccardi – Alderete's bass tech, Bixler Zavala's tech
* Joe Paul Slaby – drum tech
* Dan Hadley – lighting designer
* Shaun Sebastian – monitor engineer
* Keith Mitchell – lighting director
* Jonathan Debaun – recording engineer
* Greg Nelson – front of house engineer
* Jack Lee – in-ear monitor engineer
* Lalo Medina – tour manager
* Paul Drake – tour manager
Studio albums
* De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
* Frances the Mute (2005)
* Amputechture (2006)
* The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)
* Octahedron (2009)
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