Post by StCauseMovement on Feb 5, 2003 14:25:17 GMT -5
Artist History
This El Paso, Texas, USA-based band emerged from cult underground status to become arguably the most talked about American rock act since the mid-90s heyday of Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine. Their searing take on hardcore punk, art-noise and straightforward rock 'n' roll, with abstract but emotionally charged lyrics that are reminiscent of the best moments of Fugazi, offered the post-millennial rock scene a welcome relief from both the dumb cartoon punk of Blink-182 and the Bloodhound Gang, and the empty posturing of the nu-metal scene.
At The Drive-In was formed in 1994 by members of two of El Paso's leading underground punk bands. The original line-up featured the core partnership of Cedric Bixler (b. 4 November 1974, Redwood City, California, USA; vocals) and Jim Ward (b. 19 September 1976, El Paso, Texas, USA; guitar). Their debut single, December 1994's "Hell Paso", was released on the band's own Western Breed label. Bass player Omar Rodriguez (b. 1 September 1975, Bayamon, Puerto Rico) was added to the line-up shortly afterwards, as the band took to the road and began to attract notice for their passionate live performances. They released a second single, "Alfaro Vive, Carajo!", in June 1995 before hooking up with the tiny independent label Flipside Records. The low budget Acrobatic Tenement managed to capture some of the energy of their live shows on record and, with confidence growing, Bixler, Ward and Rodriguez were joined by Paul Himojos (b. 17 July 1975, Los Angeles, California, USA; bass) and Tony Hajjar (b. 17 August 1974, Beirut, Lebanon; drums). Rodriguez switched to guitar to accommodate Himojos, but a short period of upheaval saw Ward quit during recording sessions for the six-track EP, El Gran Orgo. He returned to the band in time to play on the "live" studio recording In/Casino/Out, which featured two genuine At The Drive-In classics, "Napoleon Solo" and "Hourglass".
The following year the band toured Europe for the first time, and played important support slots to Fugazi, the Get Up Kids and Rage Against The Machine. Following the release of the Vaya EP the band was signed to the new DEN Records label which shortly afterwards merged with the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Records label. Relationship Of Command, recorded with leading nu-metal producer Ross Robinson, saw the band reaching new heights on the thrillingly visceral "Invalid Litter Dept." and "One Armed Scissor". Shortly afterwards, the band announced that they were embarking on an extended hiatus. Bixler and Rodriguez joined up with Jeremy Ward (vocals) and Isiah Owens (keyboards) in De Facto, releasing Legende Du Scorpion A Quatre Queues in 2002. Bixler, Rodriguez and Owens also record as Mars Volta.
DISCOGRAPHY: Acrobatic Tenement (Flipside 1997)***, In/Casino/Out (Fearless 1998)***, Vaya mini-album (Fearless 1999)****, Relationship Of Command (Grand Royal 2000)****.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
This El Paso, Texas, USA-based band emerged from cult underground status to become arguably the most talked about American rock act since the mid-90s heyday of Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine. Their searing take on hardcore punk, art-noise and straightforward rock 'n' roll, with abstract but emotionally charged lyrics that are reminiscent of the best moments of Fugazi, offered the post-millennial rock scene a welcome relief from both the dumb cartoon punk of Blink-182 and the Bloodhound Gang, and the empty posturing of the nu-metal scene.
At The Drive-In was formed in 1994 by members of two of El Paso's leading underground punk bands. The original line-up featured the core partnership of Cedric Bixler (b. 4 November 1974, Redwood City, California, USA; vocals) and Jim Ward (b. 19 September 1976, El Paso, Texas, USA; guitar). Their debut single, December 1994's "Hell Paso", was released on the band's own Western Breed label. Bass player Omar Rodriguez (b. 1 September 1975, Bayamon, Puerto Rico) was added to the line-up shortly afterwards, as the band took to the road and began to attract notice for their passionate live performances. They released a second single, "Alfaro Vive, Carajo!", in June 1995 before hooking up with the tiny independent label Flipside Records. The low budget Acrobatic Tenement managed to capture some of the energy of their live shows on record and, with confidence growing, Bixler, Ward and Rodriguez were joined by Paul Himojos (b. 17 July 1975, Los Angeles, California, USA; bass) and Tony Hajjar (b. 17 August 1974, Beirut, Lebanon; drums). Rodriguez switched to guitar to accommodate Himojos, but a short period of upheaval saw Ward quit during recording sessions for the six-track EP, El Gran Orgo. He returned to the band in time to play on the "live" studio recording In/Casino/Out, which featured two genuine At The Drive-In classics, "Napoleon Solo" and "Hourglass".
The following year the band toured Europe for the first time, and played important support slots to Fugazi, the Get Up Kids and Rage Against The Machine. Following the release of the Vaya EP the band was signed to the new DEN Records label which shortly afterwards merged with the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal Records label. Relationship Of Command, recorded with leading nu-metal producer Ross Robinson, saw the band reaching new heights on the thrillingly visceral "Invalid Litter Dept." and "One Armed Scissor". Shortly afterwards, the band announced that they were embarking on an extended hiatus. Bixler and Rodriguez joined up with Jeremy Ward (vocals) and Isiah Owens (keyboards) in De Facto, releasing Legende Du Scorpion A Quatre Queues in 2002. Bixler, Rodriguez and Owens also record as Mars Volta.
DISCOGRAPHY: Acrobatic Tenement (Flipside 1997)***, In/Casino/Out (Fearless 1998)***, Vaya mini-album (Fearless 1999)****, Relationship Of Command (Grand Royal 2000)****.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
