Bio: The Mars Volta is an American Progressive rock group founded by Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López in 2001. They are generally considered progressive rock, with jazz, punk, and Latin influences. They are known for their wild, energetic and improvised live shows, as well as their usually concept-based studio albums.

The roots of The Mars Volta are found in the side project of At the Drive-In members Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez known as De Facto; which also included Jeremy Michael Ward: audio technician, close friend, and cousin of At the Drive-In member Jim Ward. De Facto featured Bixler-Zavala on drums, Rodriguez-Lopez on bass, and Ward with various loop, vocal, sound, and distortion effects, — a composite of sounds, hanging squarely on tripped-out, instrumental dub. Though De Facto started as a local band with a rock feel, they were rooted in the realm of dub reggae pioneers such as Lee Perry and Dr. Alimantado. The group also dabbled in electronica, Latin, salsa, and jazz which provided them with a distinct sound. The band played local shows around their home town, El Paso, Texas, and released their first album How Do You Dub? You Fight for Dub, You Plug Dub In.

The group eventually moved to Long Beach, California in 2000 and keyboardist Ikey Owens was added to the band lineup. In 2001, De Facto released their second album, Megaton Shotblast, on Gold Standard Laboratories, and received instant success. Although much of their initial fan base was based upon their association with At the Drive-In, De Facto continued experimenting with new sounds after Rodriguez-Lopez and Bixler-Zavala decided to end their time with the other band. The remaining members of At the Drive-In went on to form Sparta. Rodriguez-Lopez cited frustration with growing mainstream success, as well as creative suffocation as his motivation for quitting At the Drive-In, although Bixler-Zavala takes credit for the break-up of the band.

Eva Gardner joined De Facto, and it became what is now The Mars Volta, a new project they envisioned would fulfill their creative desires. (excerpt from wikipedia.com)