The Mars Volta Break Up

The Mars Volta has officially split up, according to singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala.

Cedric quit the band because guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez has committed to the side project Bosnian Rainbows, which you can hear in the player below.

As Cedric and Omar are the central founding members of the Mars Volta, a breakdown in their relationship is effectively the end of the band. Now Cedric is preparing his own solo album, which apparently sounds nothing like his previous projects.

"I tried my hardest to keep [Mars Volta] going, but Bosnian Rainbows was what we all got instead," said Cedric in a long series of tweets. "I can't sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta.

"My dream was to get us to the point were [original drummer and keyboardist] Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens came back but sadly it's over."

Cedric says Omar also blocked efforts to do a full-scale tour for their last album "Noctourniquet".

"And for the record I'm still in love with At The Drive-In. Proof was in MY performance," he said, taking a dig at Omar's reportedly lackluster performance when their legendary band At The Drive-In reformed after a 10-year hiatus.

The last comment raises an interesting question: will At The Drive-In continue beyond their one-off reunion tour without Omar on second guitar?

Listen to "Torn Maps" by Omar's new band Bosnian Rainbows, which evolved from his long-running Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group project:

Bosnian Rainbows North American tour dates (via Antiquiet)

02/15, 2013 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
02/16, 2013 – Asheville, NC @ Asheville Music Hall
02/17, 2013 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
02/18, 2013 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
02/19, 2013 – New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
02/20, 2013 – Alston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
02/22, 2013 – Montreal, QC @ Cabaret du Mile-end
02/23, 2013 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club (Early Show)
02/24, 2013 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
02/25, 2013 – Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
02/26, 2013 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
02/27, 2013 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
02/28, 2013 – TBA

Comments

[MetalMovieNerd]

That's too bad. And goddamnit Cedric, keep your bands together. First At The Drive In breaks up (I know they got back together but you get my point) now Mars Volta breaks up?

[ziggy821]

its not really his fault, omar is the one who broke up atdi and got cedric to leave with him, and now he's tired of tmv.

[Noreee]

I don't really listen to The Mars Volta, but couldn't they just replace Omar?

I know a lot of bands face situations like this and can either look for a guitarist they think can fill his shoes or one that they think will carry them in a new direction that they may be interested in. I'm sure lots of fans would be disappointed or have mixed feelings about something like that though.

[travislausch]

Have you ever tried replacing the only person in your band that writes any music? That's not something bands generally survive. And if they do, they're never the same again. Usually worse.

[Undead Rat]

Nooooo

[TheNameOfNoone]

Lol @ "Bosnian Rainbows".

[ashers67]

I read an article on NME yesterday about Bosnian Rainbows where it said The Mars Volta were on hiatus. Omar said after 8 years of being in a band with at the drive-in, he needed to be in charge, and after 11 years of that with The Mars Volta he needed to switch up again and be in a proper band. He spoke about Cedric positively saying it's best for both of them and seemed to be proud/happy that Cedric was doing his own solo album where he was writing and playing all the instruments.

Maybe these tweets sound worse than they are because they're forced to fit 140 characters, or maybe Omar's happier with the current situation than Cedric is :/

[UGtom]

Cedric has quit BECAUSE Omar put Mars Volta on hiatus. This is only confusing for the small proportion of people who also read the NME article... sorry!

[crazysam23_Atax]

@UGtom:
With all respect, who cares? Omar and Cedric clearly were no longer on the same page. It's better for a band to break up, in that case, than to continue on and have a massive "crash and burn" scenario. /shrug

[jrodgers]

Can't say I'm surprised, it seemed like these two have been having trouble working together for a while now. That being said... God****it!!!! Mars Volta definitely peaked a while back with Bedlam in Goliath, but their more recent albums have been at least highly interesting. Cant say i care for this Bosnian Rainbows song, it just sounds like butchered Mars Volta. Or maybe I just don't want to like it because it broke up one of my favorite bands...

[wursty]

Hopefully they do more stuff with ATDI now, You will be missed.

[hotdogs585]

Even if ATDI get a guitarist to fill in for Omar, Cedric doesn't sing with nearly the same passion as he did when they opened up for Rage Against The Machine. He just can't sing "Arcarsenal" anymore. The only songs that sounded ok were songs like "Lopsided" and "Napoleon Solo."

[Weirdbag]

Just a great, creative and inspiring band.
Thanks for the music guys.

[Juansyto]

i cannot take you seriously with that awesome peter avatar

[Maiden95]

This came as a pretty big shock to me. Good luck guys.

[Dylan_86]

Maybe they can get a singer who can actually sing live instead?

[skippy_moogoose]

I've seen TMV on several occasions and was at the last ATDI show...Cedric's performances were never short of stellar each time, I know he can be hit and miss, but especially since quitting smoking weed, he has been on top form vocally...check out this if you want proof (If you don't want to watch the whole thing, skip to about 4.50 secs, that wail alone is freakin' sweet) :

[Sampy]

Just as I get into them as well. God dammit!

[Calymos]

oh my god i am so close to crying right now.

[baiost]

KURWA

[PaulPL]

Chujowo...

[Calymos]

Do we have any other sources?

[GlacierMan]

Am I the only one who thought this articles title sounded like an episode of The Big Bang Theory...

[vikkyvik]

Yes.

[sykest70]

whoopty ****ing doo

[Camron62\m/]

aw no way... haven't even listened to these guys, but what a shame. :/ best of luck in the future.

[GALGOPOWER]

NICE

[GoToSleep]

Good riddance this band is a mess. And talk about horrible live performers and a singer that started to sound like a robotic chipmunk a long time ago.

[jrodgers]

Your opinions on this are terrible

[SaneMan]

That is your opinion. It is worth as much as GoToSleep's.

[Yoda_is_real]

Uh, well, it seems to be the opinion of anyone else who thumbed up his comment, too...

[SaneMan]

So? How does this mean that their opinions are worth more?

[EyesWideOpen]

You should know that this is Ultimate guitar.
Where the rule is, "opinions are fine unless it's a negative one in which case you just keep it to yourself".
A lot of kids on this site unfortunately dude.

[The Spoon]

When Cedric started using that voice, I couldn't take it. He has a gorgeous voice, I have no idea why he wanted to sound like that.

[thenightmareclu]

Was lucky enough to see At The Drive In at reading festival this year and the show was awesome, apart from Omar standing with his back to the audience the entire show. So maybe they will continue without Omar, but Sparta has just announced dates so I doubt it.

[5thCircuitRider]

Does this mean there is a chance that ATDI will stop half-assing their reunion thing now?

[SaneMan]

No.

[crazysam23_Atax]

I'm not really surprised, after their last album. It was good, but it just doesn't surprise that they're breaking up.

[guitaristren]

The Mars Volta is the perfect example of why modern progressive rock is shit. Instead of rock bands from the 70s experimenting from different orchestral instruments to different time signatures; it is now a wankfest of who can play a twenty to thirty minute track. The music itself is hardly "progressive"; instead of the music rising to a new movement or an enjoyable section; The Mars Volta boringly stagnates. It stagnates with annoying electronic bleep bloops and uninspired gibberish vocals for more than an hour.

[Abacus11]

Give "De-Loused in the Comatorium" a good listen. I agree that their later recordings were a little messy but that first album is great.

[crazysam23_Atax]

Um...what? Just because it's not your thing doesn't mean it's shit. I get that you may like '70s progressive style, but you can't 1) call a band shit just because you dislike it (you can, but it makes you sound like an asshat) AND 2) discount an entire genre because you dislike one band.

[qrEE]

It sounds like you haven't even heard the band's music.

1)Mars Volta uses orchestral instruments
2)Mars Volta uses odd time signatures and different time signatures
3)Mars Volta has plenty of shorter songs, including 2 minute songs, 4 minute songs, 8 minute songs, and then the occasional 20 or 30 minute song
4)The music is progressive in many ways
5)Mars Volta rises to new movements. They usually do it throughout an album, but sometimes they do it mid song, such as how Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus builds up to a huge climax, reprises the chorus, and then continues onward to something else entirely.
6)Old bands did all of the stuff you mentioned. Pink Floyd boringly stagnates. Rush has 20 minute songs. Electric bleep bloops are all over 70's Prog, and gibberish vocals were also used occasionally.

[nugiboy]

After hearing about the news of the hiatus (most probably break up) I surprisingly didn't really care as much as I thought I would after slowly losing hope for the band since the last 2 albums and feeling disappointed by Omar's mass produced and routine sounding solo albums. I listened to Frances today for the first time in a while and it's suddenly just hit me how much I'm going to miss these guys. As much as they've changed, there really is nothing out there that compares to what they were doing in their prime and the feelings those records evoke are just so unique. It really is sad to see them go, but part of me thinks it's for the best if it means that they don't tarnish their identity any more by releasing more embarrassing albums. If they get back together, I hope they do it for the right reasons (i.e. having rejuvenated creativity and brilliant musical ideas) rather than just for a bit of easy money (a la ATDI 'reunion'). No offence to anyone who enjoyed Octo and Noct..

[jrodgers]

I wouldn't call their most recent albums "embarrasing". Octahedron admittedly was a little weak, and Noctourniquet was really more of an odd curiosity than an enjoyable listen. I'd say that even though I still liked these albums, they were the main reason why I was kind of over these guys. I'm spinning Frances right now as well, hadn't heard it in a few years, and damn you are right on the money about their "prime" albums. Absolutely Unf***ingtouchable.

Cygnus Vismund Cygnus after all these years is still the absolute sickest jam I've ever heard

[crazysam23_Atax]

I'm not really sure of Noctourniquet. I didn't mind Octahedron, but it wasn't as good as their other albums.

[NorCalLos]

I agree with you guys that Frances was their best album, but when you consider how much Flea and John Frusciante contributed to the album, including the cetnerpiece track, you think maybe the band on it's own really isn't that great.

[crazysam23_Atax]

The core of the band were Omar and Cedric. They were (emphasis on were) a great team. Problem is, they've really not been on the same page for the last 2 albums. Honestly, as much as people praise "Frances the Mute", I find albums like "The Bedlam in Goliath" to be more of a personal favorite.
That said, all of their albums previous to their last 2 were great. Their last 2 were just...average. Meh.

[qrEE]

Flea played trumpet on only 2 songs.
John Frusciante played two guitar solos, both on only 1 song.

How much did they contribute to the album? Hardly anything at all. They didn't even perform on the centerpiece track.

[BjarnedeGraaf]

Never cared for the band, but it's always sad to hear about bands quiting.

[T00DEEPBLUE]

Terrible shame

[AdriAn934]

I just wish I could've seen them live once :/

[Acacia69]

Maybe they will reunite for a one off concert at a big festival

[Freddiez79]

Who?

[Kueller917]

If you haven't even heard of them you really need to branch out on what you listen to.

[Freddiez79]

How about No!

[Kueller917]

Suit yourself I suppose.

[crazysam23_Atax]

Then, how about you l2wikipedia?

[third(-)eye]

Someone has a flagpole up their ass...

[GuitarGod610]

Maybe they got tired of it. I got tired of listening to them after Amputechture. Their releases after that weren't nearly as good as everything that came before. They should have quit while they were ahead, honestly.

[Juansyto]

pretty weak

[scottishmob]

Let me just take a moment to say: FU&K! GODD@MMIT! WHAT THE HELL YOU GUYS! GRAAAAAH!!!!!

ps. I'll miss you ):

[gbrooks2]

This is the worst news I could have got today.

Also this Bosnian Rainbows track sounds like Omar's attempt to sell pop music.

Cedric SHOULD do something with Ikey and Jon Theodore.

[SaneMan]

I will give them a lot of my own money to not break up. It will be a lot of money. They will not be able to say no to the a lot of money that I have to give them.

[Diony x]

According to your picture, it will be a lot of money.

[SaneMan]

It is a lot of money, believe me.

[MrDo0m]

Can I have some money?

[SaneMan]

Yes. I have a lot of money for people who want it.

[gbrooks2]

This made my day.

[SaneMan]

You are very welcome.

[Raven_Flight]

I hope it's just Cedric bitching.

[HavokStrife]

Kinda sucks, I always dug Mars Volta, but it was kind of a hard transition from how much I liked At The Drive In. But they got better with every release (i.e. they used less white noise and gaps as albums progressed.). Now the best musician of both the bands is bandless, and the dope that broke up both of them started some very garbage pop band. Wonderful.

[i_am_metalhead]

So basically, "You're not allowed to be in any other bands. And if you do start a side project, then I'm going to quit!" What a twat.

[noodles_wazaman]

Lol, James Hetfield?????

[TheBigDirty716]

I don't know why you're getting downvoted, dude. i couldn't agree more. I guess a lot of people don't realize Omar has had side projects going on the entire time. only up until recently Cedric hasn't been involved with them cause he has had either Ximena or Teri singing on them.

[travislausch]

You say the same thing, until you're in a band and one of its members is holding you back to do some side project that barely gets off the ground, and then you understand that sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do.

[third(-)eye]

Can't say I ever really got into the band, but it is sad to see them break up, as I know they were very influential on many musicians (including one of my bandmates). Maybe I'll give Frances another spin.

[kill it]

this really sucks.

hoping for an at the drive-in tour without omar the turd lopez.

[Emmure456]

*on my iphone
Pull up ultimate guitar, see a picture of omar and cedric *gets really excited* zoom in to read article headline, most dissapointing news i've heard all month.

[Carl Hungus]

Sometimes people just outgrow each other. That's life.

[OBPVinny18]

What the hell!?!?!? What a great band now over. At least the records they put out were awesome

[BuffaloBills731]

Juan Alderete is one of the best bassists out there hope he can go full throttle into his side projects and other bands now at least.

[qrEE]

Racer X reunion?

[Saverain]

Man, I loved them during the At The Drive In days. I was hoping they would form again and thought they were, just sad.

[NorCalLos]

I liked Cedric's plan for TMV, but short of that, TMV wasn't going anywhere anyway. Last couple albums were all WTF. Really, ever since Jon Theodore left they have been interesting, but not magical. Hey--this solo on Bosnian Rainbows is nice :o)

[AdamHagglund]

Well ****.

[Chronic-Headach]

Damn, they were such a great band. Their last album was a bit lacking, but I loved it all the same. I'll have to check out there other stuff, see if they'll stay in ensame proggy vein of TMV

[Anjohl]

And across the world, noone cared.

[Punkhuskie6]

I saw them open up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers a few years ago. They were...atrocious. I couldnt stand to listen to them for a minute.

[explosionate]

I'm digging this Bosnian Rainbows track.

[trogdor136]

Same, it almost has a Rush vibe to it.

[im not mental]

to be honest i could never stand anything they ever did besides de-loused and the first half of frances the mute.

[crazysam23_Atax]

Their other work was much more progressive, and somewhat on the esoteric side at times.

Definitely not for everyone.

[DogSeesGhost]

Mars Volta's "music" was nothing but garbage noise crap anyway! GOOD RIDDANCE!

[Yoda_is_real]

To state my opinion, I didn't really love this band, and I tried, over, and over, to listen to the albums, but something just sounded shallow, to be totally honest. The music really felt as if it was lacking something that a lot of my favorite bands, of various styles, have, and so The Mars Volta never really stood out, to me. That being said, this band had an enormous impact on so many people, and it's just silly to say that they weren't influential or that they were "garbage". Aside from their massive influence, The Mars Volta had a really unique, creative sound that I haven't really heard duplicated, or done before, and the music that they were crafting must've been really difficult to compose, and perfect, but they never stopped trying to be better, and better, and that will always be an inspiration. Oh, plus, At The Drive-In is such a freaking great band, and it was cool to hear these punk dudes, from a town here, in Texas, trying to take their music further, with The Mars Volta. I'm excited to see where they go, from here, and if you guys haven't checked out Omar's solo music, please do, it's great!

[AdriAn934]

I can respect your opinion, and I agree, they are a big influence for many I'm sure AND they have made a sound all their own.

I just have a hard time understanding.. You're a fan of Omar's solo music but can't get into TMV? To me, and it may be different for everyone else, the two almost go hand in hand. You hear Omar's idea's in his solo work then hear them again tuned up and tweeked in TMV.

[crazysam23_Atax]

I am seriously considering looking into Omar's work, after such a classy comment as that, sir. Hell, tomorrow, I'm gonna sit down for 30minutes and check it out.

[ToolCreedence]

Damn. Only got to see them once.

[jacobdubya]

It's a shame to see TMV break-up, because they've been one of my favorite bands going back to their first album. But I admit their music had gotten a little stale over the years. Amputechture was the low point for me. The Bedlam in Goliath and Octahedron weren't bad, and I think Noctourniquet was a pretty interesting album.

So Cedric has a solo album coming out, but since he was interested in bringing Ikey Owens and Jon Theodore back to the band... why not just form a new band with him, Juan Alderete, Ikey Owens, and Jon Theodore? And get a new guitarist to fill in? I think John Frusciante would be a great choice, though I think he was closer to Omar than any of the rest of the band.

[TheBigDirty716]

Sounds like some sour grapes. TMV needed a break. Even the guys who played on the last album admitted it wasn't as enjoyable as it used to be during the recording process. Cedric and Omar made great music together for over a decade and Omar wanted to try something different. Can you blame him. and come on, replance Deantoni Parks? Are you back on drugs. Cedric?

[rbramble18]

this is...awful news...i was just starting to get into them this past year ((((

[desdin0va]

I gotta say that that Bosnian Rainbows song is really good

[Jack Off Jill]

I don't think it bothers me so much that they won't be making music together anymore, but it does bother me that it's being handled like ATDI was. Like they're blaming each other rather than dying gracefully. About a year ago Omar said in an interview that Cedric didn't want to work at the pace he works at. You could tell it was going to happen after awhile. They didn't seem like they were on the same page after Thomas was fired because of Cedric. It's just sad cause Cedric and Omar used to practically be married and it seems like the end of a friendship I thought was inspiring.

[arnob_oblique]

i could never get into their music, sounded very pretentious and annoying to my 'underdeveloped' taste.. sucks to see them break up though considering how many people loved them.

[The Spoon]

I hadn't listened to Bosnian Rainbows before, I was assuming it sounded like Omar's other projects...

Anyway, though I didn't like much of their newer material, their first few albums can't be matched.

[BurningStarlV]

This is quite tragic. TMV is one of the bands I really wanted to see live at least once in my life.

[Spineburger]

This sucks. Last night I decided to listen to their first album for the first time in at least a year. And after listening to it, I got really into The Mars Volta again and today I get online and see that they fvckin broke up! What a terrible coincidence.

[psycha3d3lics]

Happy to have seen them play. Only got too see them 4 times but each time was truly spectacular. The intimate setting of 2 small venues. But then also seeing them at Bonnaroo twice was truly amazing. These guys have had such a huge impact on my life and are such an inspiration. It is extremely disappointing, though I have faith they will play together again. Whether it takes a year to split their differences or longer, they will play together again. Hell even if they don't within the next 5 years, I'm sure they will get booked to headline a few major festivals just like ATDI had done this past summer with Coachella and Lollapalooza and a few others. At least then they will get the recognition and respect I feel they deserve. So I personally expect them to play again, though we may never get another album.