Omar Rodríguez-López

Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López (born September 1, 1975) is a Puerto Rican guitarist, songwriter, record producer and filmmaker. He has formed or played in several bands, including The Mars Volta, At the Drive-In, Antemasque, and Bosnian Rainbows. He was the bassist for the dub band De Facto. He has embarked on a solo career, both in studio and in concert, frequently described as experimental, avant-garde, or progressive. He has also collaborated with numerous artists, such as Damo Suzuki, John Frusciante, El-P, Mon Laferte and Calle 13.

Early life

Rodríguez-López was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in El Paso, Texas, and spent some of his childhood in South Carolina. He began playing the bass at age 12, but then switched to guitar at 15 because he "needed more strings". It was during this time that Rodríguez-López met Cedric Bixler-Zavala while practicing with friend Paul Hinojos. Since then Rodríguez-López 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 such as Paul Hinojos, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and the late Julio Venegas and Jeremy Ward. He attended Coronado High School in El Paso.

Career

Startled Calf (1991–1992)

Rodríguez-López dropped out of high school at age 17 to go on tour with Startled Calf, an El Paso, Texas, hardcore punk band, as their vocalist, and was left stranded in Berkeley after the rest of the band were arrested. The band formed in 1991 and featured Ralph Jasso on guitar, Jimmy Hernandez on bass, and George Fraska on drums.Ozzi, D. (2021). ''Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore'' (1994-2007). United States: HarperCollins Publishers. The band broke up in 1992. Hernandez died of cancer some time after.

At the Drive-In (1995–2001, 2012, 2016–2018)

At 17, Rodríguez-López left El Paso to hitchhike around the country for a year in the early 1990s, during which he acquired an addiction to opiates. 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 and two more critically acclaimed albums, for a variety of reasons, Rodríguez-López 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.

On January 9, 2012, At the Drive-In announced that they were reforming for a tour. The band released their fourth album ''In•ter a•li•a'' in 2017 before going on an indefinite hiatus in November 2018.

The Mars Volta (2001–2012, 2019–present)

Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala refocused their efforts on the dub outfit called De Facto, which also included Jeremy Ward and Isaiah "Ikey" Owens, and 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 Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala'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 opiates. 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 Rodríguez-López's reluctance to revisit the project which featured his late friend Jeremy Ward were both cited as reasons for the delay. However, Rodríguez-López 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 Mars Volta bandmates won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.

On January 23, 2013, The Mars Volta officially announced that they had broken up, following a series of tweets posted by Cedric Bixler-Zavala stating that he had departed the band. Their future was uncertain at this point, although Rodríguez-López has not ruled out the possibility of reuniting in the future.

On June 18, 2022, The Mars Volta revealed the coordinates to a location in Los Angeles, California, where fans were allowed to preview new music from the band. 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. The band subsequently announced their first album in 10 years, The Mars Volta, which was released on September 16, 2022.

Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (2005–2012, 2018)

In 2005 Rodríguez-López relocated to Amsterdam, where he eventually wrote and recorded four separate albums. His first solo project was the "Omar Rodríguez-López Quintet". Rodríguez-López played several live shows in Europe with his quintet, which in 2005 also included three members of The Mars Volta Group ( Juan Alderete, Marcel Rodríguez-López 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 Rodríguez-López was also working on The Mars Volta's 2006 record '' Amputechture'' and composing the score to the film ''El Búfalo de la Noche'' 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 Rodríguez-López. It featured performances by Mars Volta members Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Marcel Rodríguez-López, Juan Alderete, Adrián Terrazas-González as well as cameos by Money Mark, John Frusciante, and Jon Theodore. It was written and recorded between 2005 and 2006 in California and Amsterdam.

The Quintet later resurfaced in 2007, now known as "The Rodríguez-López Group" to perform on the "white" stage at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan on July 28. Performing with the group for the first time were singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and drummer Thomas Pridgen.

Solo releases (2004–present)

On October 8, 2007, the EP ''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch'', a collaboration with spoken word poet Lydia Lunch, was released. ''The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange'' is a double LP featuring the original quintet and was released on vinyl November 20, 2007. It was also released for digital download. ''Calibration'', a record that Rodríguez-López recorded during his stay in Amsterdam, was released February 5, 2008. It was described as being influenced by electronic music and acid-jazz.

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. Rodríguez-López has 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'', both released in late 2008.

Another album, ''Old Money'' was released in October 2008, with a vinyl version becoming available in early 2009 on the Stones Throw record label. Sonny Kay, co-owner of the former Gold Standard Labs label with Omar, created the album covers (and has done so for the majority of future Omar releases). Two Omar Rodríguez-López solo albums were released in Europe on January 26, 2009, from the Netherlands-based record label Willie Anderson Recordings: ''Megaritual'' and ''Despair''. ''Despair'' is best described as a field recording, while ''Megaritual'' is a collaboration jam between Omar and his brother, Marcel Rodríguez-López.

In mid-2009, a new entity has been created called El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez (''the New Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group'') to release the first in a series of three recordings completed in 2006. Thus far 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 Rodríguez-López on guitar, Cedric Bixler-Zavala on vocals, Zach Hill on drums, Jonathan Hischke on synth bass, and Juan Alderete on bass.

The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group toured Europe in March 2009, supported by Zechs Marquise.

At the end of 2009, Rodríguez-López released three albums, ''Los Sueños de un Hígado'', ''Xenophanes'' and '' Solar Gambling'' digitally through Rodríguez-López Productions. While ''Xenophanes'' was also released on CD and vinyl, ''Los Suenos De Un Higado'' and ''Solar Gambling'' only had a limited vinyl release. Rodríguez-López also created a video for "Asco Que Conmueve los Puntos Erógenos", from ''Xenophanes'', and posted it on YouTube on November 30, 2009.

In January 2010, ''Ciencia de los Inútiles'' was released under a new group, El Trio de Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. The trio features Rodríguez-López on acoustic guitar, Ximena Sariñana on vocals and Aaron Cruz on upright bass. A video for "Miércoles" was also released. In May 2010, he released a collaboration titled '' Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante'' with John Frusciante, free of charge through his website, with the option to donate. All money raised will go to the Keep Music in Schools programs. On May 30, 2010, the album '' Sepulcros de Miel'' by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quartet was digitally released, which also featured Frusciante.

The album '' Tychozorente'' was scheduled for release on November 1, 2010; however, it received an early release on September 14, 2010, as a digital download. Another album, titled ''Cizaña de los Amores'', was digitally released on October 11, 2010. CD and vinyl versions of both albums are only available in Europe. ''Mantra Hiroshima'', another Omar and Zach Hill collaboration, was digitally released on November 29, followed next day by ''Dōitashimashite'', album of live material recorded in September during the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group's first US tour. A video for "Agua Dulce de Pulpo" from the album ''Un Escorpión Perfumado'' was also released during that period, and the album itself was released on December 20 in digital form, with CD and vinyl versions to follow.

On April 16, 2011, Omar released ''Telesterion'', a compilation album featuring 38 songs from Omar's solo albums. Although this has been the only release of 2011, other projects have been hinted at, such as ''Двойственность вздохов'' (Russian for ''Duality of Sighs''), a documentary about the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group's Russian mini-tour, directed by Omar and shot by Paco Ibarra. The Vinyl edition of ''Telesterion'' also contained artwork for 6 solo albums that have yet to be released, and featured a new track, "Cásate Colmillo", off of an album supposedly titled ''The Somnambulis.''

On July 7, 2016, Ipecac Records announced that they would release 12 albums by Omar, fortnightly, until December 2016. They were recorded in the period 2008–2013 and one featured The Mars Volta line-up and a guest appearance by John Frusciante. The first album ''Sworn Virgins'' was released digitally on July 15, 2016, and featured the single "To Kill a Chi Chi". Recorded in El Paso and Zapopan, the other titles include ''Corazones'', ''Blind Worms Pious Swine'', ''Arañas En La Sombra'', ''Umbrella Mistress'', ''El Bien Y Mal Nos Une'', ''Cell Phone Bikini'', '' Infinity Drips'', '' Weekly Mansions'', ''Zapopan'', '' Nom De Guerre Cabal'', and '' Some Need It Lonely''.

Bosnian Rainbows and Antemasque (2012–2018)

In 2012, with Mars Volta going on hiatus, Rodríguez-López formed a solo band that eventually took the name Bosnian Rainbows. It consists of Deantoni Parks (drums, keyboards), Teri Gender Bender (vocals) and Nicci Kasper (keyboards). They released one self-titled album in June 2013. On April 8, 2014, Omar announced a new musical project called Antemasque with former At the Drive-In and Mars Volta bandmates Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals) and David Elitch (drums) as well as Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group released their first song, "4AM". Flea said that Antemasque is a project between Omar and Cedric, and that he is only a contributing artist.

, both Bosnian Rainbows and Antemasque have essentially been put on hold due to touring commitments of At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta.

Other media

Aside from music, Rodríguez-López is also involved in filmmaking and photography. Beginning in his At the Drive-in days he started to document many kinds of things: live shows, sound checks, dressing rooms, hotels, airport lounges, sightseeing, encounters with colleagues. Since 2001 he has produced many films, of which '' The Sentimental Engine Slayer'' was the first to be released. Rodríguez-López wrote, directed, produced and starred in the film, which was premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2010 and saw the DVD release in January 2013. Another film directed by Omar, ''Los Chidos'', was premiered in March 2012 at SXSW. Furthermore, Rodríguez-López and Hans Zimmer worked together to compose the score for the 2009 Guillermo Arriaga film ''The Burning Plain''. The film was his second collaboration with the writer/director after scoring the 2007 film '' El Búfalo de la Noche'' with The Mars Volta; in addition to some original material, the score also includes material used in '' Amputechture''. Rodríguez-López's first photo book, ''Hunters in High Heels'' documenting the years from 2000 to 2006, was slated to release in 2013 but was postponed for unknown reasons. It was finally released in late 2024.

Musicianship

Style

Rodríguez-López's compositional and playing style is characterized by, among other factors, riffs, melodies based in minor modes, changing meters, unresolving dissonances (in particular a heavy use of the tritone), chromatic passages, and lengthy improvisation. He is also known for his vast array of effects pedals; in a feature appearing in Guitar World, Rodríguez-López 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''.

Rodríguez-López plays guitar left-handed. He has cited salsa pianist and bandleader Larry Harlow as his primary influence. Both Rodríguez-López and bandmate Cedric Bixler-Zavala have recorded with former Can lead singer Damo Suzuki for the '' Please Heat This Eventually'' EP. In the progressive rock genre in which The Mars Volta are often categorized, he has professed that he "like a lot of those groups, particularly King Crimson and early Genesis." As such, he has cited his main and clearest influence Frank Zappa, Crimson's Robert Fripp, jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin as well as hardcore punk and hard rock guitarists Greg Ginn and Jimi Hendrix respectively. He has also named Siouxsie, Missing Persons, Wayne Shorter as being among "all the greats" along with Steve Reich, Tangerine Dream, Tchaikovsky, Tom Petty and Marvin Gaye." He has also stated that film is a primary influence on him, likening his recording style to that of a film director, where the "scenes are shot out of sequence and the final creation is in the hands of the director.".

Equipment

Omar has endorsed Ibanez guitars since The Mars Volta's inception in 2001. Previously he used Squier Super-Sonic guitars while playing with At the Drive-In. He also recorded ''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' with a Gibson SG II from the early 1970s which he also used in live improv shows with Flea and John Frusciante. He uses Seymour Duncan JB Jr. pickups as well. Although he tunes to E standard tuning, Omar uses Ernie Ball .013-.056 gauge strings with a wound G string, saying that "they feel more real than the really thin ones". Omar also plays through an Orange Rockerverb combo amp as well. In recent years, Omar has taken a minimalist approach to his pedals, which at one point was a very complex setup. During The Mars Volta's 2011 tour with Soundgarden, he used a Boss DD5 Digital Delay, an MXR Phase 90, an Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy analog delay, a Boss PS-6 Harmonist, a Line 6 M9 Stompbox Modeler, an MXR M133 Micro Amp, an Ibanez WH10V2 wah-wah, an Ibanez TC7 tri-mode chorus, and a Line 6 DL4 delay modeler.

During The Mars Volta's final shows and At the Drive-In's reunion tour, Rodríguez-López switched back to a full-sized Ibanez Jetking guitar, although retaining his preferred single-pickup and volume knob configuration and 24" neck scale. In a recent interview with TC Electronic, he is seen using a blue Ibanez Jetking with two full-size humbuckers.

While performing with Bosnian Rainbows, Rodríguez-López began to use a mid-1960s era left-handed Supro 3/4 scale guitar with a single pickup in the bridge position. Shortly afterwards, he was seen playing a custom Ibanez guitar that closely resembled his Supro. In addition, Rodríguez-López now uses flatwound strings on his guitar. Rodríguez-López's pedalboard for Bosnian Rainbows consisted of a Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner, an Empress Superdelay, a Blackout Effects Whetstone analog phaser, a Catalinbread Semaphore tremolo pedal, a Boss DD-5 Digital Delay, an EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine, an Empress Fuzz pedal, a Catalinbread Calisto chorus/vibrato pedal, and a Boss SL-20 slicer.

From 2015 onwards, Rodríguez-López began playing Ernie Ball Music Man guitars, notably the Albert Lee HH and St. Vincent models, as well as his signature Mariposa model from 2019 onwards.

Signature guitars

In 2008, Ibanez released the ORM-1 Omar Rodriguez-Lopez signature guitar, which was produced through 2012 and based on the Ibanez Jetking.

Rodríguez-López designed and released the Mariposa signature guitar with Ernie Ball Music Man in 2019. It has an okoume body in an angular shape with a laser-etched floral pickguard, and two custom humbuckers featuring two volume knobs with a tethered tone circuit, which creates variations in treble response when the pickups are set at different levels.

As producer

Rodríguez-López is also notable for his recording, producing and songwriting techniques. He has claimed that he is "ignorant of music theory" and that thus he lacks knowledge in writing music in standard notation, claiming that his songwriting "comes from emotion completely". Rodríguez-López claims to write all of the music for his projects, then dictates the performance to the musicians involved.

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 and in 2009, handled the production of a recording titled "Terra Incognita" from actress/singer Juliette Lewis' band The New Romantiques. Omar also produced (as well as contributed bass to) '' Sin Sin Sin'', the debut LP from the band Le Butcherettes, which was released in 2011 on Rodriguez-Lopez Productions.

Personal life

Rodríguez-López says he enjoys the company of his close friends and family when not fulfilling obligations to his many bands and projects. He has been a vegetarian for most of his life.

In the documentary film ''Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird'', Rodríguez-López discussed instances of homophobia that he suffered as a result of his "fluid" sexuality, and opened up on having been in a romantic relationship with bandmate Jeremy Ward which was kept in secret.

Rodríguez-López dated singer-songwriter and actress Ximena Sariñana from 2008 to 2011. His current partner is musician and singer Teresa Suárez (aka Teri Gender Bender).

Discography

As a solo artist

*'' A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume One'' (2004)
*'' Omar Rodriguez'' (2005)
*'' Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo'' (2007)
*''The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange'' (2007; as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Quintet)
*''Calibration'' (2007)
*''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; as El Grupo Nuevo De Omar Rodriguez Lopez)
*''Los Sueños de un Hígado'' (2009; Live; as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Xenophanes'' (2009)
*'' Solar Gambling'' (2009)
*''Ciencia de los Inútiles'' (2010; as El Trio De Omar Rodriguez Lopez)
*'' Sepulcros de Miel'' (2010; as "Omar Rodriguez Lopez Quartet")
*'' Tychozorente'' (2010)
*''Cizaña de los Amores'' (2010)
*''Mantra Hiroshima'' (2010)
*''どういたしまして'' (''Dōitashimashite''; 2010; live; as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Un Escorpión Perfumado'' (2010)
*''Telesterion'' (2011; compilation)
*''Un Corazón de Nadie'' (2012)
*''Saber, Querer, Osar y Callar'' (2012)
*''Octopus Kool Aid'' (2012)
*''Equinox'' (2013)
*'' Woman Gives Birth to Tomato!'' (2013; as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Unicorn Skeleton Mask'' (2013)
*'' ¿Sólo Extraño?'' (2013)
*'' Sworn Virgins'' (2016)
*''Corazones'' (2016)
*''Blind Worms Pious Swine'' (2016)
*''Arañas en la Sombra'' (2016)
*''Umbrella Mistress'' (2016)
*''El Bien y Mal Nos Une'' (2016)
*''Cell Phone Bikini'' (2016)
*'' Infinity Drips'' (2016)
*'' Weekly Mansions'' (2016)
*''Zapopan'' (2016)
*'' Nom de Guerre Cabal'' (2016)
*'' Some Need It Lonely'' (2016)
*''A Lovejoy'' (2016)
*''Roman Lips'' (2017)
*''Zen Thrills'' (2017)
*''Chocolate Tumor Hormone Parade'' (2017; Live)
*''Ensayo de un Desaparecido'' (2017)
*''Azul, Mis Dientes'' (2017)
*''Gorilla Preacher Cartel'' (2017)
*''Killing Tingled Lifting Retreats'' (2017)
*''Solid State Mercenaries'' (2017)
*''Doom Patrol'' (2017)
*''The Clouds Hill Tapes Parts I, II & III'' (2020)
*''Live at Clouds Hill'' (2024)
*''Is It the Clouds?'' (2024)

Collaborations
*'' Please Heat This Eventually'' (EP) (2006; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Damo Suzuki; featuring Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch'' (EP) (2007; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Lydia Lunch; featuring Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward'' (2008; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Ward)
*''The Burning Plain'' soundtrack (promo only) (2008; as Hans Zimmer and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez)
*'' Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante'' (2010; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and John Frusciante)
*''Faust & Omar Rodriguez Lopez Live at Clouds Hill'' (2012; part of ''Live at Clouds Hill'' box set; as Faust and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez)
*''Birth of a Ghost'' (2017; with With Lions)

With Startled Calf
*'' I Love Being Trendy'' (1993)

With At the Drive-In
* '' Acrobatic Tenement'' (1997)
* '' El Gran Orgo'' (1997)
* '' In/Casino/Out'' (1998, re-release 2004)
* '' Vaya'' (1999, re-release 2004)
* '' Sunshine / At the Drive-In'' (2000)
* ''Relationship of Command'' (2000, re-release 2004)
* '' This Station Is Non-Operational'' (2005)
* ''in•ter a•li•a'' (2017)
* '' Diamanté'' (2017)

With De Facto
*'' 456132015'' (2001)
*'' Megaton Shotblast'' (2001)
*'' How Do You Dub? You Fight For Dub, You Plug Dub In'' (2001)
*'' Légende du Scorpion a Quatre Queues'' (2001)

With the Mars Volta
* '' Tremulant'' (2002)
* ''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' (2003)
* ''Live'' (2003)
* ''Frances the Mute'' (2005)
* '' Scabdates'' (2005)
* '' Amputechture'' (2006)
* '' The Bedlam in Goliath'' (2008)
* ''Octahedron'' (2009)
* '' Noctourniquet'' (2012)
* ''The Mars Volta (2022)
* '' Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón'' (2023)
* '' Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío'' (2025)

With Le Butcherettes
* '' Sin Sin Sin'' (2011)
* ''Cry Is for the Flies'' (2014)

With Bosnian Rainbows
*''Bosnian Rainbows Live at Clouds Hill'' (10" EP) (2012; part of ''Live at Clouds Hill'' box set)
*'' Bosnian Rainbows'' (2013)

With Kimono Kult
*''Hiding in the Light'' (2014)

With Antemasque
*'' Antemasque'' (2014)

With Crystal Fairy
*'' Crystal Fairy'' (2017)

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)
* "Live Private Booths" by Alavaz Relxib Cirdec (uncredited) (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 Part One'' by Erykah Badu (2008)
* ''Leslie White'' by Taka Takaz (2009)
* '' Sympathy for Delicious OST'' by Burnt the Diphthongs (2010)
* ''Negativa'' by Hour of the Monarchy (2010)
* '' Entren Los Que Quieran'' by Calle 13 (2010)
* '' The Golden Age of Knowhere'' by Funeral Party (2011)
* '' Ximena Sariñana'' by Ximena Sariñana (2011)
* ''Tercer Solar'' by Apolo (2014)

As producer
*'' El Gran Orgo'' by At the Drive-In (1997) co-produced with Bryan Jones and other members of at the Drive-In
*'' Sunshine / At the Drive-In'' by at the Drive-In (2000) co-produced with other members of at the Drive-In
*''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' by The Mars Volta (2003) co-produced with Rick Rubin
*''Live'' by The Mars Volta (2003) co-produced with Cedric Bixler-Zavala
*'' 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'' (2007)
*'' Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo'' (2007)
*''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch'' (2007)
*''The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange'' (2007)
*''Calibration'' (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'' by The Mars Volta (2009)
*''Terra Incognita'' by Juliette and The New Romantiques (2009)
*''Los Sueños de un Higado'' (2009)
*''Xenophanes'' (2009)
*'' Solar Gambling'' (2009)
*''Ciencia de los Inútiles'' (2010)
*'' Omar Rodriguez Lopez & John Frusciante'' (2010)
*'' Sepulcros de Miel'' (2010)
*'' Tychozorente'' (2010) co-produced with Elvin Estela
*''Cizaña de los Amores'' (2010)
*''Mantra Hiroshima'' (2010)
*''どういたしまして'' (''Dōitashimashite''; 2010)
*''Un Escorpión Perfumado'' (2010)
*''Telesterion'' (2011; compilation)
*'' Sin Sin Sin'' by Le Butcherettes (2011)
*'' Noctourniquet'' by The Mars Volta (2012)
*''Un Corazón de Nadie'' (2012)
*''Saber, Querer, Osar y Callar'' (2012)
*''Octopus Kool Aid'' (2012)
*''Equinox'' (2013)
*'' Woman Gives Birth to Tomato!'' (2013)
*''Unicorn Skeleton Mask'' (2013)
*'' ¿Sólo Extraño?'' (2013)
*''Guardián'' by Apolo (2015)
*'' A Raw Youth'' by Le Butcherettes (2015)
*''Norma'' by Mon Laferte (2018)

Filmography

As performer

;Feature films

* ''All Tomorrow's Parties'' (2009)
* '' The Sentimental Engine Slayer'' (2010)

As director

;Feature films
* '' The Sentimental Engine Slayer'' (2010)
* ''Los Chidos'' (2011)
* ''Amalia'' (2018)
* ''Luna Rosa: La 7ª ascensión de Atabey'' (2025)
;Music videos
* " Inertiatic ESP" (2003) for The Mars Volta
* " L'Via L'Viaquez" (2005) for The Mars Volta
* " The Widow" (2005) for The Mars Volta
* " Wax Simulacra" (2008) for The Mars Volta
* " Aberinkula" (2008) for The Mars Volta
* " Ilyena" (2008) for The Mars Volta
* "Goliath" (2008) for The Mars Volta
* " Askepios" (2008) for The Mars Volta
* "Calibration" (2008)
* "Cotopaxi" (2009) for The Mars Volta
* " Since We've Been Wrong" (2009) for The Mars Volta
* " Asco Que Conmueve los Puntos Erógenos" (2009)
* " Miercoles" (2010)
* " Polaridad" (2010)
* " Agua Dulce De Pulpo" (2010)
* " Shine Down" (2011) for Ximena Sariñana
* "Pineapple Face" (2016)
* "My Mallely" (2016) for Le Butcherettes

;Collaborations
*" Metronome Arthritis" (1999) video for At the Drive-In with Dan Tierney and other members of At the Drive-In
*" One Armed Scissor" (2000) video for At the Drive-In with other members of At the Drive-In

Bibliography

*''Hunters in High Heels'' (2025)

References

External links

Official website
*
*
*
Omar Rodriguez interview

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez-Lopez, Omar
1975 births
Living people
American funk guitarists
American male guitarists
American multi-instrumentalists
American punk rock guitarists
American reggae guitarists
American rock guitarists
At the Drive-In members
American dub musicians
Grammy Award winners
Jazz fusion guitarists
Jazz-rock guitarists
Lead guitarists
People from Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Musicians from El Paso, Texas
Stones Throw Records artists
Progressive rock guitarists
Puerto Rican guitarists
Puerto Rican multi-instrumentalists
Ipecac Recordings artists
The Mars Volta members
American male jazz musicians
De Facto (band) members
Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group members
Antemasque (band) members
Bosnian Rainbows members
Crystal Fairy (band) members
Le Butcherettes members
El Grupo Nuevo de Omar Rodriguez Lopez members