Despair

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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 did not rule 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. The Mars Volta has remained active ever since.

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.

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.

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.

Discography

As a solo artist

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)

With Startled Calf

Can't Change Me (1991)

I Love Being Trendy (1992)

With Jerk

Things You Can Do With A 20 Dollar Bill... (1993)

With Food Plaza

Punk Soccer (1994)

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)

La Realidad De Los Sueños (2021)

Landscape Tantrums (2021)

The Mars Volta (2022)

Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón (2023)

Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío (2025)

Lucro Sucio; Unfinished Business (2026)

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)

Saddle on the Atom Bomb (unreleased)

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)

Hechizo (Las Canciones De Bunbury Y Héroes Del Silencio Cantadas Por Los Artistas De Los Dos Lados Del Atlántico) (2010)

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)

Sed by Kianí Medina (2024)

Despair

Despair

Article

Notable quotes

Notable quotes

Article

Early life

Career

Startled Calf (1991–1992)

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

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

Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (2005–2012, 2018)

Solo releases (2004–present)

Bosnian Rainbows and Antemasque (2012–2018)

Other media

Musicianship

Style

Equipment

As producer

Personal life

Discography

Filmography

As performer

As director

About Despair

About Despair

Article

Notable quotes

Notable quotes

Article

Early life

Career

Startled Calf (1991–1992)

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

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

Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group (2005–2012, 2018)

Solo releases (2004–present)

Bosnian Rainbows and Antemasque (2012–2018)

Other media

Musicianship

Style

Equipment

As producer

Personal life

Discography

Filmography

As performer

As director