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Cedric Bixler-Zavala full Twitter statement: Thank u 2 all VOLTA fans u deserved more especially after the way u rooted for us on this album. I tried my hardest to keep it going but Bosnian Rainbows was what we all got instead. I can’t sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta. I honestly thank all of you for buying our records and coming to our shows. You guys were a blast to play in front of. We could never had done it with out you. My dream was to get us to the point were Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens came back but sadly it’s over. Thank u a million times over for ever giving a quack about our band. For the record I tried my hardest to get a full scale North American tour going for Noctourniquet but Omar did not want to. I guess a break from mars volta means starting another band and ignoring all the support the fans gave us. I tried my hardest guys. All I can do is move forward with my music and just be happy that mars volta ever happened at all. God Damn we had a blast. Thank u again. And no I’m not joking about any of this, I owe it 2 u guys to all fans to be serious about this. Thank u to all past members who helped Volta along as well. we blasted through like a comet and left our mark! If u ever see me in person and want to know why I’ll tell u my story. Please just be happy that it happened at all remember all the opposition we were met with for just starting a new band back in 2001.
I was lucky enough to see them progress as a live band, from the first time I saw them open for System of a down in 2005 to opening for Soundgarden in 2011 and the 4 times in between, including headlining sets, festivals, and more opening. It's a shame
Yes, I know... sad day. Some will say that they weren't a good band, some will say that they were once good and had lost it, but I say that last album of theirs had me really optimistic. Oh well, just glad I got to see them as many times as I did.
Pretty much expected but still pretty sad nonetheless. This band changed how I perceive music and helped open my ears and mind to a lot of other stuff that I would have never given a chance previously.
I also don't think this is forever, but it still is very sad. There was one constant in my life, and that was the bond between Cedric and Omar haha.. but I can be happy knowing that they have filled my life with wonderful, wonderful music. And I was lucky enough to see them as The Mars Volta at Bonnaroo and as the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group at a small venue here a few years ago. They will live on in my heart and in my mind
ALSO, I know that there is a lot of things going on in this story that we do not know, but as of now I fully support and agree with Cedric over Omar in all of this.
1. Cedric is completely correct about Noctourniquet. It was a great album and showed that the band still had the potential of being what they once were. It should have come with a tour. And he deserved to state that he wanted a tour because its not fair for anyone to think that he also did not want to tour. 2. I agree when ATDI reunited for a few shows, Omar was not into it at ALL. The entire time I watched the feed from Coachella I was shocked and appalled that he was just playing his notes and not making any emotional expressions or even moving. Now I also know that Omar's mother had passed away close to when the concerts happened, but if he was only going to play half ass they shouldn't have played. Cedric should not have had to deal with any criticism that may have come from a band he truly loved being known as lackluster because of their reunion shows. 3. Omar is probably at the very least a narcissistic person. He pretty much ruled over all of his bands. That type of structure would hurt any "partnership," especially if one partner apparently had no say in what the bands did. 4. From the evidence of their first song, Bosnian Rainbows are awful. I hope this isn't truly what Omar wants from music right now. 5. I would LOVE for Cedric to do some work with Jon and Ikey. 6. We still (I think) have Zechs Marquise, which is a poor man's Mars Volta typically without vocals. If only Cedric would work with them... Hmm.. Pipe dream
And yes, I understand that my picture is of Omar. If someone can add a R.I.P. to my picture, I would die.
Did you go to the Zechs Marquise show that I booked at AMB last year? Just curious if you are one of the dudes that I met from a nola crew that was there.
Did you go to the Zechs Marquise show that I booked at AMB last year? Just curious if you are one of the dudes that I met from a nola crew that was there.
I saw Zechs when they opened for ORL Group at the Parish and I saw Zechs by themselves at Howling Wolf. I think the Parish show was two years ago and the Howling Wolf show was last year some time
Did you go to the Zechs Marquise show that I booked at AMB last year? Just curious if you are one of the dudes that I met from a nola crew that was there.
I saw Zechs when they opened for ORL Group at the Parish and I saw Zechs by themselves at Howling Wolf. I think the Parish show was two years ago and the Howling Wolf show was last year some time
Yeah, I was at that epic Parish show in 2011. Zechs toured with a band from Ireland called And So I Watch You From Afar last year, but they didn't play nola and I got them booked in Mobile. I met a bunch of mars volta / zechs superfans from nola at that show and was just wondering if you were one of them.
The Parish show was March 24, 2011 and The Howling Wolf show was November 16, 2011, so they were both in 2011 then. But anyway, nah I wasn't at the Mobile show. I wish I was though! Hope they tour again soon. They always take the time to just sit around and talk to you before and after shows. They signed my shirt at Parish and signed my vinyl of Getting Paid at Howling Wolf
I for one, do not want to see Cedric work with Zechs Marquise, I think their dynamic as a band is perfectly fine and adding him would throw it off.
As for Bosnian Rainbows being awful, that's really debatable, and even at that it's still too early to really say one way or the other. Fact of the matter is, they have one piece of studio recorded music that we have heard and a good number of concerts in the past... and many of these concerts have been getting stellar reviews. Actually, I have yet to read a live review of the band where the reviewer is less than impressed. I am going to see them in a couple of months, and I'm hoping it's a good show, and I'm actually expecting some good music. I'm also expecting some wise ass self entitled Volta fans will be there to heckle Omar and ruin the vibe.
Omar looked pretty damn disinterested for ATDI at Coach. But I think I heard is mom died or something? Dude looked miserable though.
Yeah his mom died right around those first shows, but if you also look at him during the Lolla show, which was 4+ months later, he still looks just as disinterested
Omar looked pretty damn disinterested for ATDI at Coach. But I think I heard is mom died or something? Dude looked miserable though.
Yeah his mom died right around those first shows, but if you also look at him during the Lolla show, which was 4+ months later, he still looks just as disinterested
There were some problems with the Lolla show and Cedric had to tell some stories and shit to pass the time. It reminded me of the problems they had with tuning at Roo a few years back. Omar wasnt entertained then either.
Yeah his mom died right around those first shows, but if you also look at him during the Lolla show, which was 4+ months later, he still looks just as disinterested
There were some problems with the Lolla show and Cedric had to tell some stories and shiz to pass the time. It reminded me of the problems they had with tuning at Roo a few years back. Omar wasnt entertained then either.
Ah okay, wasn't sure if it was because of the technical difficulties or just disinterest. I was at both of the shows, I don't really remember the tuning problems from the Roo show except maybe during Goliath? But anyway Cedric's story telling was top notch
"That's what when happens when you learn to play guitar at Guitar Center" or whatever. I loved Cedric's banter at that show.
That was great.
We didn't have the best spot for the show, we were really close to the front, but a little more to the right than I prefer, so, at first, I couldn't tell if the sound issues had to do with that (plus the Which Stage in general) but Cedric cleared it up, haha.
As for Bosnian Rainbows being awful, that's really debatable, and even at that it's still too early to really say one way or the other. Fact of the matter is, they have one piece of studio recorded music that we have heard and a good number of concerts in the past... and many of these concerts have been getting stellar reviews. Actually, I have yet to read a live review of the band where the reviewer is less than impressed. I am going to see them in a couple of months, and I'm hoping it's a good show, and I'm actually expecting some good music. I'm also expecting some wise ass self entitled Volta fans will be there to heckle Omar and ruin the vibe.
I only caught their last song at FFF7 because I was at BTBAM, but they fucking destroyed during that last song and Omar was going completely apeshit on stage.
I saw them a couple times over the years and one show was awesome the latter was not so awesome. Seems to me that people that feel the need to put out 5-10 albums every year aren't really doing their best work. Not everything you create is a masterpiece. Calm the f*ck down Omar and maybe don't put out every shitty half-assed song that pops out of your brain.
They had their run, but really they could have been so much better.
I was extremely sad to have read this news. Like many others in this thread, listening to The Mars Volta and Tool are the two bands that really opened up my mind to what music can be. TMV will likely always be in my top 3 favorite bands of all time.
Thankfully I got to enjoy seeing them live 5 or so times. I think it was 2 shows during Frances tour, two during the Bedlam tour, and at 'Roo 09. Add in an Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group show where Cedric was on vocals the whole time, and the ATDI reunion show in Austin and I definitely got to enjoy the boys.
I still remember when I got to see them in the Frances era, God those shows were sick! There was one line in Cygnus at the Houston show where Cedric looked down and locked eyes with me for what felt like seconds...still think about that when I hear that line!
I actually just saw Bosnian Rainbows when they came through Houston late last year. It was a great show, but I can't say it really stands up to TMV yet. Who knows what it'll evolve into though. I will say that the lead singer for Bosnian Rainbows is quite intense. She has a habit of just staring at someone in the audience for a good 5+ seconds while performing. It's just such a pure, intense look that it can be relatively unnerving!
Omar was very much enjoying himself at the Bosnian Rainbow show, hopefully he finds what he's looking for. It was only a matter of time before two personalities as strong as Omar and Cedric would split though, just glad they stuck together for as long as they did. I don't know, I have a feeling we'll see them working together in a few years once everyone has their space and freedom. Will TMV ever come back around? Who knows, but I do think we'll see Omar and Cedric together again...at least that's what I tell myself when I go to sleep at night!