Omar Rodríguez-López
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Omar Rodriguez-Lopez | |
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 Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Omar Alfredo Rodriguez-Lopez |
| Born | September 1, 1975 |
| Origin | Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Genre(s) | Progressive rock Experimental rock Post-hardcore Acid jazz Jazz fusion Psychedelic rock Alternative rock Art rock Electronica Dub Reggae Avant-garde metal Noise |
| Occupation(s) | Musician Guitarist Producer Filmmaker |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Synthesizer, Sitar, Drum machine, Vocals, Percussion, Organ, Wurlitzer, Sampler, Gong, Clavinet, Rhodes |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Associated acts | The Mars Volta De Facto At the Drive-In John Frusciante Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Squier Super-Sonic (At The Drive-In), Ibanez AX120 Custom Model, Ibanez JTK2 Jet King Custom Model, Ibanez ORM1 Omar Rodriguez Lopez Jet King Model |
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Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López (born September 1, 1975 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico) is a Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, lead guitarist and producer for the group The Mars Volta, and the former guitarist for the post-hardcore outfit At the Drive-In. He has also, since 2004, embarked upon a prolific and genre-defying solo career, variously described as experimental, avant-garde, or "progressive" and has collaborated with such artists as John Frusciante and El-P.
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[edit] Biography
Rodriguez-Lopez grew up in El Paso, Texas, but spent some of his childhood in South Carolina. He started his music career at 15 years of age when he became the singer for the El Paso hardcore band Startled Calf from 1990 to 1992. It was during this time that Rodriguez-Lopez met Cedric Bixler-Zavala while practicing with friend Paul Hinojos. Since then Rodriguez-Lopez has spent most of his career living and working with his close friend Bixler-Zavala. During this time he frequently collaborated with his friends and future bandmates from El Paso, which included people like Paul Hinojos, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Julio Venegas and the now late Jeremy Michael Ward.[1]
[edit] At the Drive-In
At 17, Rodriguez-Lopez left El Paso to hitchhike around the country for a year in the early 90's, during which he acquired an addiction to opiates.[1] Eventually he got in touch with friend Cedric Bixler-Zavala who suggested he come back to El Paso. With the help of Bixler-Zavala, he was able to return to El Paso where he could begin to reclaim his life from addiction and join At the Drive-In as backup vocalist and bass guitarist. After receiving a record deal with Flipside Records and recording Acrobatic Tenement with the band, he became their full-time bassist before switching to guitar. After several years, for a variety of reasons, Rodriguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala left At the Drive-In and the band went on "indefinite hiatus". The remaining members, Paul Hinojos, Tony Hajjar, and Jim Ward went on to form Sparta while the duo focused on other projects.
[edit] The Mars Volta
They refocused their efforts on the dub reggae outfit called De Facto which also included Jeremy Michael Ward and Ikey Owens which they had started years before while still in At The Drive-In. Eventually the same collective of musicians in De Facto would be expanded into Rodriguez-Lopez's new band, The Mars Volta. Once again starting from scratch he wrote and toured with the band which consumed almost all his time and money.
On May 25, 2003 less than a month before the release of their first full-length album, De-Loused in the Comatorium, bandmate and close friend Jeremy Ward was found dead of a heroin overdose. This event, coupled with the memories of the suicide of his friend Julio Venegas years earlier, finally convinced both him and Bixler-Zavala to quit using hard narcotics. Since then he has been clean and credited his newfound musical work ethic on his new lifestyle. The Mars Volta's second album, Frances the Mute, would later be dedicated to Ward.
During the early years of the band he also worked on a low budget movie called A Manual Dexterity which starred Jeremy Ward. The soundtrack A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1 was released in 2004. The release of the second volume, which was originally planned for Spring of 2005, and the film were both delayed indefinitely due to legal problems. Conflicts over ownership of certain footage and Rodriguez-Lopez's reluctance to revisit the project which featured his late friend Jeremy Michael Ward were both cited as reasons for the delay.[2] However, Rodriguez-Lopez stated that he does intend to release both Volume 2 and the film at some point in the future.
On February 8, 2009, he and his fellow The Mars Volta bandmates won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
[edit] The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet
In 2005 Rodriguez-Lopez relocated to Amsterdam, where he eventually wrote and recorded four separate albums. His first solo project was the "Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet". Rodriguez-Lopez played several live shows in Europe with his quintet, which in 2005 also included three members of The Mars Volta Group (Juan Alderete, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez and Adrián Terrazas-González) and Money Mark.
The songs featured on this tour later appeared on the album Omar Rodriguez. It was characterized by long, improvisational songs with Dutch titles and no lyrics. The Quintet also performed live with Damo Suzuki, parts of which were recorded and incorporated into a 25-minute EP titled Please Heat This Eventually, which was released in 2007.
During this time Rodriguez-Lopez was also working on The Mars Volta's 2006 record Amputechture and composing the score to the film El Búfalo de la Noche, a film by Guillermo Arriaga and Jorge Hernandez Aldana simultaneously to his work with the quintet.
On May 29, 2007 Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo was released. It was the third full-length solo album by Rodriguez-Lopez. It featured performances by Mars Volta members Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Juan Alderete, Adrián Terrazas-González as well as cameos by Money Mark, John Frusciante, and John Theodore. It was written and recorded between 2005-2006 in California and Amsterdam.
The Quintet later resurfaced in 2007, now known as "The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group" to perform on the "white" stage at The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan on July 28.[2] Performing with the group for the first time were singer, Cedric Bixler-Zavala and drummer, Thomas Pridgen.[3]
On October 8th, 2007 the EP Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch, a collaboration with spoken word poet Lydia Lunch, was released.[4]
The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange is a double LP featuring the original quintet and was released on vinyl November 20, 2007.[5] It was also released for digital download.
Calibration, a record that Rodriguez-Lopez recorded during his stay in Amsterdam, was released February 5, 2008. It was described as being influenced by electronic music and acid-jazz.[2]
On June 10, 2008 a recording titled "Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward" was released. It was a collaboration between the two and was recorded in 2001 before the formation of The Mars Volta. The LP consists of various ambient tracks based on field recordings in the musique concrète tradition.
The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group toured Europe in March 2009, supported by Zechs Marquise.
[edit] Recent events
Rodriguez-Lopez has also continued to release a series of albums recorded in 2001 which include Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus and Minor Cuts and Scrapes in the Bushes Ahead.
The vinyl version of Old Money became available on the Stones Throw Record Label on February 6, 2009.[6]
Also, two more Omar Rodriguez-Lopez solo albums were released in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2009 from Holland based record label Willie Anderson Recordings. The albums are Megaritual and Despair. Sonny Kay, co-owner of the former "Gold Standard Labs" label with Omar, created the cover artwork for these albums.
In addition, a new entity has been created called "El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez" to release the first in a series of 3 recordings completed in 2006. For the past 2 years these recordings have only been known as the "Omar and Zach Hill collaborations." The first recording titled Cryptomnesia was released on May 5, 2009. Vocals written and performed by Bixler-Zavala were recorded in 2008. The lineup for this entity is: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez on guitar, Cedric Bixler-Zavala on Vocals, Zach Hill on drums, Jonathan Hischke on synth bass, and Juan Alderete on bass.
Recently, Rodriguez-Lopez produced a recording titled "Terra Incognita" from actress/singer Juliette Lewis' band The New Romantiques according to info posted on Lewis' Myspace blog.
Furthermore, Rodriguez-Lopez and Hans Zimmer worked together to compose the score for the film The Burning Plain.[7]
Alongside his musical career, Rodriguez-Lopez is directing and acting in a film tentatively titled "The Sentimental Engine Slayer", which also features his younger brother Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez. Rodriguez-Lopez is co-producing the film with fellow Mars Volta band mates Juan Alderete and Paul Hinojos.[8] A second project also mentioned was a film entitled "El Divino Influjo de los Secretos". There is very little info available on these projects at this time.[citation needed]
[edit] Musicianship
[edit] Style
Rodriguez-Lopez's compositional and playing style is characterized by, among other factors, unresolving dissonances (in particular a heavy use of the tritone), chromatic passages, serial composition and lengthy improvisation. He is also known for his vast array of effects pedals; in a feature appearing in Guitar World, Rodriguez-Lopez stated that he "began to see effects as allies in my war against the guitar". In that interview he also stated that he hated the guitar for a very long time. He only utilized it because it was the instrument his bandmates could "relate to". He said he "wrestled" guitar by adding effects and playing oddly to attempt "making it sound like anything besides this thing I hate—the guitar!". However, he claimed to feel more comfortable with the instrument on Amputechture.
Rodriguez-Lopez plays guitar left-handed. He has cited salsa pianist and bandleader Larry Harlow as his primary influence.[citation needed] Both Rodriguez-Lopez and bandmate Cedric have often stated their admiration for early 1970s krautrock group Can as well as Irish experimentalists Les Enfants Terribles and have even recorded with lead singer Damo Suzuki for the Please Heat This Eventually EP.[citation needed] He has also stated that film is a primary influence on him.[citation needed] David Lynch, David Cronenberg and Takashi Miike are among his favorite directors.[citation needed]
[edit] As Producer
Rodriguez is also notable for his recording, producing and songwriting techniques. He has been known to refuse to let other musicians in a session hear each other's parts, or the context of their own part, thus forcing them to play each part as if it's a self-sufficient song, not unlike Miles Davis [9]. He has claimed that he is "ignorant of music theory" and that thus he lacks knowledge in writing music in sheet music form, claiming that his songwriting "comes from emotion completely" [10]. Rodriguez claims to write all of the music for his projects, then dictates the performance to the musicians involved [11].
In addition to his producing credits with The Mars Volta and his solo albums, he also produced the only LP from the defunct LA-based band Radio Vago.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo
- A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume One (2004) as Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
- Omar Rodriguez (2005) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet - LP A.S.
- Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo (2007) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP A.S.
- The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange (2007) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet - LP A.S.
- Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far) (2007) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP A.S.
- Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus (2008) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
- Minor Cuts and Scrapes in the Bushes Ahead (2008) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
- Old Money (2008) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
- Megaritual (2009) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP A.S.
- Despair (2009) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
- Cryptomnesia (2009) as El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez - LP
- Xenophanes (2009) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - LP
A.S. denotes the "Amsterdam Series" records.
[edit] Collaborations
- The Special 12 Singles Series (2005) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante - contribution to an LP
- Please Heat This Eventually (2007) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Damo Suzuki - EP
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch (2007) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch - EP
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward (2008) as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward - LP
[edit] With Startled Calf
- I Love Being Trendy (1991) - EP
[edit] With At the Drive-In
- Acrobatic Tenement (1996) - LP
- El Gran Orgo (1997) - EP
- In/Casino/Out (1998, re-release 2004) - LP
- Vaya (1999, re-release 2004) - EP
- Relationship of Command (2000, re-release 2004) - LP
- This Station Is Non-Operational (2005) - Compilation
[edit] With De Facto
- 456132015 (2001) - EP
- Megaton Shotblast (2001) - LP
- How Do You Dub? You Fight For Dub, You Plug Dub In (2001) - LP
- Légende du Scorpion á Quatre Queues (2001) - LP
[edit] With The Mars Volta
- Tremulant (2002) - EP
- De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003) - LP
- Live (2003) - Live EP
- Frances the Mute (2005) - LP
- Scabdates (2005) - Live LP
- Amputechture (2006) - LP
- The Bedlam in Goliath (2008) - LP
- Octahedron (2009) - LP
[edit] With El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
- Cryptomnesia (2009) - LP
[edit] Guest appearances
- Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three by Various Artists (Produced by Henry Rollins) (2002)
- Shadows Collide With People by John Frusciante (2004)
- Inside of Emptiness by John Frusciante (2004)
- Curtains by John Frusciante (2005)
- Radio Vago by Radio Vago (2005)
- The Phantom Syndrome by Coaxial (2005)
- Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006)
- I'll Sleep When You're Dead by El-P (2007)
- New Amerykah by Erykah Badu (2008)
- Negativa by Hour of the Monarchy (2009)
[edit] As Producer
- De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta (2003) co-produced with Rick Rubin
- A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1 (2004)
- Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta (2005)
- Scabdates by The Mars Volta (2005)
- Omar Rodriguez (2005)
- Radio Vago by Radio Vago (2005)
- Amputechture by The Mars Volta (2006)
- Please Heat This Eventually (2006)
- Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo (2007)
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch (2007)
- The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange (2007)
- Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far) (2007)
- The Bedlam in Goliath by The Mars Volta (2008)
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward (2008)
- Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus (2008)
- Minor Cuts and Scrapes in the Bushes Ahead (2008)
- Old Money (2008)
- Megaritual (2009)
- Despair (2009)
- Cryptomnesia (2009)
- Octahedron (2009)
- Terra Incognita by Juliette and The New Romantiques (2009)
- Xenophanes (2009)
[edit] References
- ^ a b HARP Magazine
- ^ a b c www.themarsvoltaitalia.com - SITO ITALIANO NON UFFICIALE DEDICATO AI THE MARS VOLTA
- ^ YouTube - Broadcast Yourself
- ^ News for July 12, 2007 http://www.goldstandardlabs.com/news.html
- ^ Infrasonic Sound
- ^ http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2008/11/omar-rodriguez-lopez-releases-old-money-on-stones-throw
- ^ The Burning Plain
- ^ Da oportunidad a talento de EP - Diario.com.mx: Edición Cd. Juárez
- ^ The Mars Volta - Artistopia Music
- ^ Speakers of the house | The San Diego Union-Tribune
- ^ SPIN.com: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Chats Projects, Mars Volta
[edit] External links
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