The Mars Volta: Undercover Part 1

(Undercover.com.au / June 2008)
Part 1: The structure of their songs, not having rehearsals, how the songs are written and their live show.

[@kierandavies9195]

I could listen to Omar's explanations of things all day. He talks so much sense mixed with peculiarity My new favourite guitarist for sure

[@stefanopellegrini7094]

Totally I'd like to have an entire evening with this guy and just let him speak and explain whatever the f**k he wants to me!

[@mylefteye]

I'm laying in bed watching this in 2019 and I'm thinking , "it's been 11 years already since this interview was recorded?" Wow.... time is FLYING.😳

[@higgaroc]

amazing what's gone on with TMV since you had this moment!

[@osarenigglet]

HOLY SHIT! the way Omar explained the way he makes a album! OMG!

[@CaptainLavenderBand]

Cedric writes the lyrics. Omar is just responsible for the melodic and instrumental parts of the music. Omar and Cedric are the Mars Volta. The other members are just performances. But at the same time Pridgen and Theodore were also a large part of the band as well.

[@SuperTwilightZoned]

Born in Puerto Rico, raised in El Paso

[@edumacation101]

I thought I was a pretty big fan, but listening to these guys talk makes me an even bigger fan. Love this band!

[@chickenslips]

I am continuously amazed by their brilliance. Everything they do is spec-freaking-tacular. Like, they're just genious. I wish other bands had their mentality.

[@MrThom89]

Back here in 2021

[@fugamante]

Omar Rodriguez-López and Carlos Alomar, in my opinion, are the most proficient rock-music-guitar-players of Latin American descent that have ever existed. I`m from Puerto Rico, as they are, and I find it eery that not many people know about them here... We should build monuments for them! And named streets in their honor!! Hopefully the young-generation does that for Omar, but I`d hate to see Carlos Alomar forgotten in his own country...

[@dannyd1224]

Good insight on how he makes things work. He's right he can't let them in on everything...its his music.

[@jimihendrixx11]

Thanks for uploading! Great interview

[@NaeJoy]

Omar has really got his head screwed on right. I understood and agreed with EVERYTHING he said about writing and recording music.

[@bethmcblaze]

these are really really good videos. awesome interview. thanks alot for sharing this with us. :)

[@ReggaeMusic3]

yes, omar writes EVERYTHING in the music...these two are merely the frontmen of the band

[@chickensoupz376]

cedric and omar built TMV from the ground up after they left ATDi. i think it's perfectly fine for them to have creative control over the band, and i don't think they're being egotistical. everyone in the band knows how things work, and from what i understand who ever omar is recording is always free to offer up suggestions about the music.

[@TylerHNothing]

He called Cedric a wife. Remember when Cedric tweeted he was tired of being progressive rock's housewife? God damn.

[@MrTrendkill42]

*being a progressive housewife

[@mojoandpolly]

Omar 0:22 - 0:30 is gold.

[@jonbonjoviham]

not the editing part obviously, but i think Miles Davis used the technique of seperating the musicians of his band to learn parts so that there was greater competition as it were...

[@123mysweetvoice]

i like cedric alot!!!

[@cdrumz]

THANK U SIR THANK U

[@xoalinehue]

Way to make history

[@Motilliatta]

Why have I seen this same comment on a million different TMV interviews?

[@Croot_Music]

Omar borrows a lot of his concepts from Miles Davis

[@bridgadellic]

cutest guys i have ever seen

[@ChunkyYogurt]

@fugamante Actually they're from El Paso, Texas.

[@andthemushrooms123]

Weird yet awesome recording method. :D

[@allsfullofluv]

i 2nd this!

[@BigTymerPimp]

I don't understand what you're saying. I was replying to some guy who said he hopes Cedric & Omar aren't gay because they "look and sound gay" to him apparently. Somehow that would make him not want to listen to their music. I only used "Tiny Dancer" and Sir Elton John as an example. What are you saying? If you listen to Tiny Dancer you, yourself will turn gay?

[@SteVeThe3rd]

did he say "votimation"? these guys are awesome

[@aldousband0000000000]

couldnt have said it better cdrumz

[@jcBurton2094]

That's how these records are made

[@beauthenchez]

Gee, I wonder why Jon Theodore quit.

[@FondlingReply]

@PistolWhip96 Actually, I'm pretty sure all of the Rodriguez-Lopez's are from Puerto Rico. At the Drive-In is from El Paso...?

[@Lameeeee]

do you just jaaaam them out bro?

[@cncarter3]

Omar is a genius. Visionary. Same with his brother....the interviewer is not as sharp as would be an interviewer who was an actual musician...he would've asked better questions..

[@cncarter3]

The overall creator, whomever that is. I'm obviously confused on the issue

[@FOOROCKS123]

so they jam it out right? LOL

[@cdrumz]

as far as live i could see why so many niggas say dat about improvising but on albums everything sounds planned to me...if not then they would never give you dat feel they give you...

[@FondlingReply]

I figured, dude.

[@FondlingReply]

Yes I know I literally said that all of the Ro-Los were born in Puerto Rico.

[@utubedestroysmytime]

he is like a mix of miles davis and alex lifeson to me

[@BrixSnBs]

@MikeTheGuy00 I think they're a lot more humble than you percive them to be. I think their eclectic music taste is a testament to that.

[@eamnr14]

@MikeTheGuy00 i believe they have the right to be up tight about everything...omar simply explains it at the beggining..theres alot of misconceptions about the band, based on what everyone wants to believe. not what they know. viva volta.

[@hjstuckey]

@rollerblaker dude the joke was that i used the incorrected tense like he did maybe if you saw the original comment but i don't remember exactly what it was, cause it was a fucking year ago. Stop commenting on dead comments

[@SuperTwilightZoned]

Oh I am in the business, and brother...business is good.

[@FondlingReply]

I'm in the business of givin' you the business.

[@snabelsnas]

If anyone thinks Volta songs are just jammed out , they know nothing about music.

[@WrathChild-NZ]

so do omar and cedric write EVERYTHING in the music? drums, bass, keyboards etc? do the rest of the band have any credit lol? you never see them in any interview!

[@germandylan7164]

I am Omar Rodriguez Lopez cousin

[@AxiomApe]

German Dylan Really? Lol

[@BigTymerPimp]

Oh, okay. Thanks for the laugh, it was meant to be funny. :)

[@OzDoll]

~Those 2 are one good marriage. haha.

[@MicsG]

Ok I'm saying it. Cedric is hot!

[@exoskeletal6704]

His hair was insane during this era lmaooo I miss the Mars Volta!

[@MicsG]

@@exoskeletal6704 same!

[@apacheazul]

@xInDiieKiiDx Omar's Volta

[@vladimiroramirez3430]

B. esa greña! O. esa lucidez

[@rollerblaker]

@hjstuckey When did yours? Before you insult someone on their grammar, check your own.

[@SuperTwilightZoned]

No buddy, you literally said "all of the Rodriguez-Lopez's are FROM P.R."

[@Barkyr]

omar at 7:04 smashing

[@TheDas9582]

SOoo you guys are NOT into jazz?

[@bmldr]

if you would really know everything zappa has accomplished, you wouldn't say that.

[@merrymadi]

Who's? The interviewer's?

[@nipsnaps22]

BURPS!

[@rmmstn99]

I don't think you understand how the Theater Circuit works

[@TheDiazvolta]

ohhh, good one oh and everybody loves me! :) have you heard the saying "arguing on the internet is like the special olympics... even if you win, you're still retarted" just wait a few years... whatever, nice talking to you

[@apatternforu]

or you could just be a group of amazing musicians that sound great live, not chopping some notes, or complaining about how one could have a bad singing day!

[@TheDiazvolta]

dang you wrote a whole paragraph out of one question i wonder why people are so sensitive these days and take everything so serious. Relax man. Its just youtube.

[@Shadow1059]

except he kicks zappas ass

[@MrDerrekClay]

Haha Omar has a wife

[@Archcecil]

follow the idea not the example man

[@BackwardsCup]

"i hope there not" Lol, why? What does that have to do with the style of music they play? They're just like that because they used to be opiate addicts.

[@chickensoupz376]

"At-The-Drive-In was a better band" That's subjective You're narrow minded I look forward to your reply.

[@apatternforu]

cool band, although there is nothing wrong musical theory and applying it to your band.

[@BigTymerPimp]

Well, they both have girlfriends...might even be married now. Dude...how could you judge somebody like that? Do you go like: "Elton John was pretty good on piano, but he was gay as hell so I can't listen to Tiny Dancer or I might turn gay." Grow up dude. Either you like the music or you don't. Don't get into their personal life.

[@vegadomis32988]

thy arnt gay?? wtf omar is like married i think and a christian u jerks!!1

[@pablorocha8933]

vegadomis32988 lol Omar’s definitely not Christian, but yeah who the fuck is saying they’re gay ? Omar fucked Winona Ryder

[@FondlingReply]

If you're in the business of splitting hairs over the word "from", then sure.

[@MrThefrederic]

What a terrible interviewer....

[@saltedpork461]

Please speak like you have some sense

[@guygroomes07]

i dont like omar, he seems selfish and pretentious to me. Used and abused the singer im betting

[@JohnnySuckss]

he isn't pretentious. and he isn't using or abusing cedric. but he's stubborn and wants to do things his way. a lot of good arists are like that. he got pretty popular writing music by himself and he just wants people to help him play it live on instruments that he doesn't know how to operate, that's all really.

[@utubedestroysmytime]

Guy Groomes they are very pretentious and not fan friendly.

[@awol.oper8r]

Guy Groomes him and Cedric have been close friends for decades. There's a reason they always work together

[@heatseeker9738]

utubedestroysmytime Lol I love when people make bold claims with nothing to back it up.