Omar Rodríguez-López | |
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Omar Rodríguez-López with Omar Rodríguez-López Group in 2011
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Background information | |
Birth name | Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López |
Born |
Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
September 1, 1975
Origin | El Paso, Texas, United States |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer, filmmaker |
Instruments | |
Years active | 1990–present |
Associated acts | |
Website | Omar Rodriguez Lopez Productions |
Notable instruments | |
Squier Super-Sonic (At The Drive-In), Ibanez AX120 Custom Model, Ibanez JTK2 Jet King Custom Model, Ibanez ORM1 Omar Rodriguez Lopez Jet King Model Fender Mustang Ernie Ball/Music Man Albert Lee HH |
Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López (born September 1, 1975) is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, writer, actor and film director. He is known for being the guitarist and band-leader of The Mars Volta from 2001 until their breakup in 2012, and is currently the guitarist for the alternative rock groups At the Drive-In, Antemasque and Bosnian Rainbows. He was also 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 and/or progressive. He has collaborated with numerous artists spanning from John Frusciante to El-P.
Rodríguez-López was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in El Paso, Texas, and spent some of his childhood in South Carolina. He began playing the bass at age 12, but then switched to guitar at 15 because he "needed more strings". It was during this time that Rodríguez-López met Cedric Bixler-Zavala while practicing with friend Paul Hinojos. Since then Rodríguez-López has spent most of his career living and working with his close friend Bixler-Zavala. During this time he frequently collaborated with his friends and future bandmates from El Paso, which included people such as Paul Hinojos, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Julio Venegas and the late Jeremy Michael Ward. He attended Coronado High School in El Paso. He says he enjoys the company of his close friends and family when not fulfilling obligations to his many bands and projects.