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
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
,
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
,
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
, known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), was a Japanese musician best known as the vocalist for the German Krautrock group Can (band), Can between 1970 and 1973. Born in 1950 in Kobe, Japan, he moved to Europe in the late 1960s where he was spotte ...
,
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
,
El-P
Jaime Stuart Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has ...
,
Mon Laferte
Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte (born 2 May 1983) better known as Mon Laferte, is a Chilean and Mexican musician, singer, songwriter and painter. Her musical style is diverse, spanning across different genres such as pop, rock, bolero, cu ...
and
Calle 13.
Early life
Rodríguez-López was born in
Puerto Rico
; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...
and grew up in
El Paso, Texas
El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
, and spent some of his childhood in
South Carolina
South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
. 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
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
while practicing with friend
Paul Hinojos
Pablo J. Hinojos-Gonzalez (born July 17, 1975), also known as Paul Hinojos, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist for At the Drive-In, and former touring member of The Mars Volta. He is also a former guitarist of Sparta.
Biogr ...
. 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
El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
, which included people such as
Paul Hinojos
Pablo J. Hinojos-Gonzalez (born July 17, 1975), also known as Paul Hinojos, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist for At the Drive-In, and former touring member of The Mars Volta. He is also a former guitarist of Sparta.
Biogr ...
,
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
, and the late
Julio Venegas and
Jeremy Ward. He attended
Coronado High School in
El Paso
El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
.
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
El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
, hardcore punk band, as their vocalist, and was left stranded in
Berkeley
Berkeley most often refers to:
*Berkeley, California, a city in the United States
**University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California
*George Berkeley (1685–1753), Anglo-Irish philosopher
Berkeley may also refer to ...
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
opiate
An opiate is an alkaloid substance derived from opium (or poppy straw). It differs from the similar term ''opioid'' in that the latter is used to designate all substances, both natural and synthetic, that bind to opioid receptors in the brain ( ...
s.
Eventually he got in touch with friend
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
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
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
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
Pablo J. Hinojos-Gonzalez (born July 17, 1975), also known as Paul Hinojos, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist for At the Drive-In, and former touring member of The Mars Volta. He is also a former guitarist of Sparta.
Biogr ...
,
Tony Hajjar
Tony Hajjar (born August 17, 1974) is a Lebanese-born American drummer, best known for playing in At the Drive-In and Sparta. As of 2016, he is playing in the reformed At The Drive-In, as well as the new group, Gone Is Gone. Tony also produced ...
, and
Jim Ward went on to form
Sparta
Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the Evrotas Valley, valley of Evrotas (river), Evrotas rive ...
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•ter a•li•a'' is the fourth and final studio album by At the Drive-In, released on May 5, 2017 on Rise and Transgressive. Produced by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and Rich Costey, it was the band's first studio album in seventeen ...
'' 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
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
. 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
''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on June 24, 2003, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixl ...
'', 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
''Frances the Mute'' is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incor ...
'', 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
Mark Ramos Nishita (born February 10, 1960), known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011.
Early life
Born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawai ...
.
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
, known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), was a Japanese musician best known as the vocalist for the German Krautrock group Can (band), Can between 1970 and 1973. Born in 1950 in Kobe, Japan, he moved to Europe in the late 1960s where he was spotte ...
, 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
is an annual music festival, rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The three-day event, organized by Smash (Music promoters), Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it th ...
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
Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959)Martin Charles Strong. ''The Great Indie Discography''. 2003, page 85 is an American singer, poet, writer, actress and self-empowerment speaker. Her career began during the 1970s New York City no ...
, 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
In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known ...
'', 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
Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both 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
Old money is a social class of the rich who have been able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations, in contrast with new money whose wealth has been acquired within its own generation. The term often refers to perceived members of th ...
'' 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
Field recording is the production of audio recordings outside recording studios, and the term applies to recordings of both natural and human-produced sounds. It can also include the recording of electromagnetic fields or vibrations using diff ...
, 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
Zachary Charles Hill (born December 28, 1979) is an American multi-instrumentalist and visual artist. He is best known as the drummer and co-producer of the groups Death Grips, and the I.L.Y's, and as the drummer of math rock band Hella.
Ear ...
collaborations''. The first recording titled ''
Cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original. It is a memory bias whereby a person may falsely recall generating a thought, an idea, a tune ...
'' 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
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
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
Xenophanes of Colophon ( ; ; – c. 478 BC) was a Greek philosopher, theologian, poet, and critic of Homer. He was born in Ionia and travelled throughout the Greek-speaking world in early classical antiquity.
As a poet, Xenophanes was known f ...
'' 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
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
, 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
The Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (often referred to by its acronym ORLG) is an American experimental rock band, and the main side project of Omar Rodríguez-López. Featuring an ever-changing lineup of musicians alongside Rodriguez-Lopez, the gr ...
'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
Zapopan () is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Zapopan is the largest city in the state. It's best known as the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin ...
, 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
Zapopan () is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Zapopan is the largest city in the state. It's best known as the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin ...
'', ''
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
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
(vocals) and
David Elitch (drums) as well as
Flea
Flea, the common name for the order (biology), order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by hematophagy, ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult f ...
, the bassist for the
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
. 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
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
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
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, focused on independent and experimental films. The inaugural festival took place in June 1972, ...
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
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and Convention (meeting), conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. It began in 1987 and has conti ...
. Furthermore, Rodríguez-López and
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards and a Tony ...
worked together to compose the score for the 2009
Guillermo Arriaga
Guillermo Arriaga Jordán (; born 13 March 1958) is a Mexican novelist, screenwriter, director and producer. Self-defined as "a hunter who works as a writer," he is best known for his Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and BAFTA Award ...
film ''
The Burning Plain
''The Burning Plain'' is a 2008 American drama film directed and written by Guillermo Arriaga and starring Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Basinger and Joaquim de Almeida. In Arriaga's directorial debut, he films a story that has mult ...
''. 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
In music theory, the tritone is defined as a interval (music), musical interval spanning three adjacent Major second, whole tones (six semitones). For instance, the interval from F up to the B above it (in short, F–B) is a tritone as it can be ...
),
chromatic passages, and lengthy
improvisation
Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen. Improvis ...
. He is also known for his vast array of
effects pedals
An effects unit, effects processor, or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion (music), distortion/overdrive, ...
; in a feature appearing in
Guitar World
''Guitar World'' is a monthly music magazine for guitarists and fans of guitar-based music and trends. The magazine has been published since July 1980. ''Guitar World'', the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original a ...
, 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
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
have recorded with former Can lead singer
Damo Suzuki
, known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), was a Japanese musician best known as the vocalist for the German Krautrock group Can (band), Can between 1970 and 1973. Born in 1950 in Kobe, Japan, he moved to Europe in the late 1960s where he was spotte ...
for the ''
Please Heat This Eventually'' EP. In the
progressive rock
Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
genre in which The Mars Volta are often categorized, he has professed that he "like
a lot of those groups, particularly
King Crimson
King Crimson were an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968 by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald (musician), Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield. Guitarist Fripp remained the only constant member throughout the ...
and early
Genesis
Genesis may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of humankind
* Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Bo ...
." As such, he has cited his main and clearest influence
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
, Crimson's
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is an English musician, composer, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session mu ...
,
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion (also known as jazz rock, jazz-rock fusion, or simply fusion) is a popular music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric gui ...
guitarist
John McLaughlin as well as
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
and
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...
guitarists
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn ( , born June 8, 1954) is an American musician and songwriter, best known for being the leader, primary songwriter, and the only continuous member of the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to ...
and
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
respectively. He has also named
Siouxsie,
Missing Persons
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, o ...
,
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Shorter came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary comp ...
as being among "all the greats" along with
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael Reich ( ; born October 3, 1936) is an American composer best known as a pioneer of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s. Reich's work is marked by its use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm, and canons. Reich descr ...
,
Tangerine Dream
Tangerine Dream is a German electronic music band founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese the only constant member until his death in January 2015. The best-known lineup of the grou ...
,
Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular ...
,
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the leader and frontman of the Rock music, rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s sup ...
and
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player an ...
." 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
''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on June 24, 2003, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixl ...
'' with a Gibson SG II from the early 1970s which he also used in live improv shows with
Flea
Flea, the common name for the order (biology), order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by hematophagy, ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult f ...
and
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
. 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
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Cornell switched to rhythm guitar in 1985, replaced on drums initially ...
, 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
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki was one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United Stat ...
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
Juliette Lake Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an American actress, singer and musician. She is known for her portrayals of offbeat characters, often in films with dark plots, themes and settings. Lewis gained prominence in American cinema during t ...
' band The New Romantiques. Omar also produced (as well as contributed bass to) ''
Sin Sin Sin'', the debut LP from the band
Le Butcherettes
Le Butcherettes is a Mexican Garage punk (fusion genre), garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara by Teri Gender Bender.
History
Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender, who later recruited drummer Auryn Jolene ...
, 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
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
for most of his life.
In the documentary film ''Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird'', Rodríguez-López discussed instances of
homophobia
Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, Gay men, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred, or ant ...
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
In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known ...
'' (2007)
*''Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus'' (2008)
*''Minor Cuts and Scrapes in the Bushes Ahead'' (2008)
*''
Old Money
Old money is a social class of the rich who have been able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations, in contrast with new money whose wealth has been acquired within its own generation. The term often refers to perceived members of th ...
'' (2008)
*''Megaritual'' (2009)
*''Despair'' (2009)
*''
Cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original. It is a memory bias whereby a person may falsely recall generating a thought, an idea, a tune ...
'' (2009; as El Grupo Nuevo De Omar Rodriguez Lopez)
*''Los Sueños de un Hígado'' (2009; Live; as Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''
Xenophanes
Xenophanes of Colophon ( ; ; – c. 478 BC) was a Greek philosopher, theologian, poet, and critic of Homer. He was born in Ionia and travelled throughout the Greek-speaking world in early classical antiquity.
As a poet, Xenophanes was known f ...
'' (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
Zapopan () is a city and municipality located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Part of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Zapopan is the largest city in the state. It's best known as the home of the Virgin of Zapopan, an image of the Virgin ...
'' (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
, known as Damo Suzuki (ダモ鈴木), was a Japanese musician best known as the vocalist for the German Krautrock group Can (band), Can between 1970 and 1973. Born in 1950 in Kobe, Japan, he moved to Europe in the late 1960s where he was spotte ...
; featuring Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch'' (EP) (2007; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and
Lydia Lunch
Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959)Martin Charles Strong. ''The Great Indie Discography''. 2003, page 85 is an American singer, poet, writer, actress and self-empowerment speaker. Her career began during the 1970s New York City no ...
; featuring Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group)
*''Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Jeremy Michael Ward'' (2008; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez &
Jeremy Ward)
*''
The Burning Plain
''The Burning Plain'' is a 2008 American drama film directed and written by Guillermo Arriaga and starring Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Basinger and Joaquim de Almeida. In Arriaga's directorial debut, he films a story that has mult ...
'' soundtrack (promo only) (2008; as
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards and a Tony ...
and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez)
*''
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & John Frusciante'' (2010; as Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
)
*''Faust & Omar Rodriguez Lopez Live at Clouds Hill'' (2012; part of ''Live at Clouds Hill'' box set; as
Faust
Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...
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
''Relationship of Command'' is the third studio album by American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, released on September 12, 2000. The album combines an aggressive edge with a melodic drive, harmonious, emotive vocals, and surreal lyrics. Whil ...
'' (2000, re-release 2004)
* ''
This Station Is Non-Operational'' (2005)
* ''
in•ter a•li•a
''in•ter a•li•a'' is the fourth and final studio album by At the Drive-In, released on May 5, 2017 on Rise and Transgressive. Produced by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and Rich Costey, it was the band's first studio album in seventeen ...
'' (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
''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on June 24, 2003, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixl ...
'' (2003)
* ''
Live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
* ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film
*'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...
'' (2003)
* ''
Frances the Mute
''Frances the Mute'' is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incor ...
'' (2005)
* ''
Scabdates'' (2005)
* ''
Amputechture'' (2006)
* ''
The Bedlam in Goliath'' (2008)
* ''
Octahedron
In geometry, an octahedron (: octahedra or octahedrons) is any polyhedron with eight faces. One special case is the regular octahedron, a Platonic solid composed of eight equilateral triangles, four of which meet at each vertex. Many types of i ...
'' (2009)
* ''
Noctourniquet'' (2012)
* ''
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(2022)
* ''
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón'' (2023)
* ''
Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío'' (2025)
With
Le Butcherettes
Le Butcherettes is a Mexican Garage punk (fusion genre), garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara by Teri Gender Bender.
History
Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender, who later recruited drummer Auryn Jolene ...
* ''
Sin Sin Sin'' (2011)
* ''
Cry Is for the Flies
Crying is the dropping of tears (or welling of tears in the eyes) in response to an emotional state or physical pain. Emotions that can lead to crying include sadness, anger, joy, and fear. Crying can also be caused by relief from a period ...
'' (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
Henry Lawrence Garfield (born February 13, 1961), known professionally as Henry Rollins, is an American singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, comedian, and presenter. After performing in the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1 ...
) (2002)
* ''
Shadows Collide with People'' by
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
(2004)
* ''
Inside of Emptiness'' by
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
(2004)
* ''
Curtains
A curtain is a piece of cloth or other material intended to block or obscure light, air drafts, or (in the case of a shower curtain) water.
Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building's windows to block the passage of light. For instan ...
'' by
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante ( ; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician and the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, having been with the band across three iterations. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic gu ...
(2005)
* ''Radio Vago'' by Radio Vago (2005)
* "Live Private Booths" by
Alavaz Relxib Cirdec (uncredited) (2005)
* ''The Phantom Syndrome'' by Coaxial (2005)
* ''
Stadium Arcadium
''Stadium Arcadium'' is the ninth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is a double-album, first released in Germany on May 5, 2006, and released on May 9, 2006 in the United States on Warner Bros. Records. It produced f ...
'' by
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...
(2006)
* ''
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
''I'll Sleep When You're Dead'' is the second solo studio album by American hip hop artist El-P. It was released through Definitive Jux on March 20, 2007. It peaked at number 78 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling about 11,000 c ...
'' by
El-P
Jaime Stuart Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has ...
(2007)
* ''
New Amerykah Part One
''New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)'' is the fourth studio album by American contemporary R&B, R&B singer Erykah Badu. It was released on February 26, 2008, by Universal Motown following Badu's hiatus from recording music due to writer's blo ...
'' by
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
(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
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
(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
''De-Loused in the Comatorium'' is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on June 24, 2003, on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal Records. Based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixl ...
'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(2003) co-produced with
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay Rubin (, ; born March 10, 1963) is an American record producer. He is a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.
Rubin helped popularize hip hop by produci ...
*''
Live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
* ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film
*'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...
'' by The Mars Volta (2003) co-produced with
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
Cedric Bixler-Zavala (born November 4, 1974) is an American musician. He has been the lead singer and lyricist of the progressive rock band the Mars Volta since its inception in 2001. He was the lead singer and only constant member of the post-ha ...
*''
A Manual Dexterity: Soundtrack Volume 1'' (2004)
*''
Frances the Mute
''Frances the Mute'' is the second studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta released in February 2005 on Gold Standard Laboratories and Universal. Produced by guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the album incor ...
'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(2005)
*''
Scabdates'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(2005)
*''
Omar Rodriguez'' (2005)
*''Radio Vago'' by Radio Vago (2005)
*''
Amputechture'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(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
In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known ...
'' (2007)
*''
The Bedlam in Goliath'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(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
Old money is a social class of the rich who have been able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations, in contrast with new money whose wealth has been acquired within its own generation. The term often refers to perceived members of th ...
'' (2008)
*''Megaritual'' (2009)
*''Despair'' (2009)
*''
Cryptomnesia
Cryptomnesia occurs when a forgotten memory returns without it being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is something new and original. It is a memory bias whereby a person may falsely recall generating a thought, an idea, a tune ...
'' (2009)
*''
Octahedron
In geometry, an octahedron (: octahedra or octahedrons) is any polyhedron with eight faces. One special case is the regular octahedron, a Platonic solid composed of eight equilateral triangles, four of which meet at each vertex. Many types of i ...
'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(2009)
*''Terra Incognita'' by
Juliette and The New Romantiques (2009)
*''Los Sueños de un Higado'' (2009)
*''
Xenophanes
Xenophanes of Colophon ( ; ; – c. 478 BC) was a Greek philosopher, theologian, poet, and critic of Homer. He was born in Ionia and travelled throughout the Greek-speaking world in early classical antiquity.
As a poet, Xenophanes was known f ...
'' (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
Le Butcherettes is a Mexican Garage punk (fusion genre), garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara by Teri Gender Bender.
History
Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender, who later recruited drummer Auryn Jolene ...
(2011)
*''
Noctourniquet'' by
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
(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 Norma may refer to:
* Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
** Norma Lizbeth Ramos, a Mexican bullying victim
Astronomy
*Norma (constellation)
* 555 Norma, a minor asteroid
* Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral ...
'' by Mon Laferte (2018)
Filmography
As performer
;Feature films
* ''
All Tomorrow's Parties
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released as the band's debut single in 1966. The song is from their 1967 debut studio album, ''The Velvet Underground & Nico''.
Inspiration for the so ...
'' (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
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
L'Via L'Viaquez" (2005) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
The Widow" (2005) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Wax Simulacra" (2008) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Aberinkula" (2008) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Ilyena" (2008) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Goliath
Goliath ( ) was a Philistines, Philistine giant in the Book of Samuel. Descriptions of Goliath's giant, immense stature vary among biblical sources, with texts describing him as either or tall. According to the text, Goliath issued a challen ...
" (2008) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Askepios" (2008) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Calibration
In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known ...
" (2008)
* "
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi () is an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located near Latacunga city of Cotopaxi Province, about south of Quito, and northeast of the city of Latacunga, Ecuador. It is the second highest summit in Ecuador (after Chim ...
" (2009) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
Since We've Been Wrong" (2009) for
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 2001. The band's only constant members are Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, producer, direction) and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals, lyrics), whose partnership forms the core of the ban ...
* "
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
Le Butcherettes is a Mexican Garage punk (fusion genre), garage punk band formed in 2007 in Guadalajara by Teri Gender Bender.
History
Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender, who later recruited drummer Auryn Jolene ...
;Collaborations
*"
Metronome Arthritis" (1999) video for
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
with Dan Tierney and other members of
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
*"
One Armed Scissor" (2000) video for
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
with other members of
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
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