Pop Quiz: The Mars Volta

Pop Quiz: The Mars Volta

Aidin Vaziri | Most bands call Rick Rubin when they need a creative boost, but the members of the Mars Volta got help on their new album from an old Ouija board they picked up on tour in Jerusalem. When it wasn't causing floods, power outages or their longtime engineer to have a nervous breakdown, the talking board fed front man Cedric Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López thematic inspiration for their fourth release, "The Bedlam in Goliath," due Jan. 29. But fans can preview the band's collaboration with the psycho-spiritual force at a seven-hour New Year's Eve concert.


Omar Rodríguez-López of the Mars Volta
Q: So you hauled this Oujia board back and all hell broke loose?
A: In a manner of speaking. It was very gradual. I got two weeks of work done for the album, and all of a sudden my engineer, who I've seen more than my girlfriend in the past 15 years, says, "I'm not going to help you finish this record. I know what you're trying to do to me, and I'm not going to let you do it." He accused me of making him go crazy with my music. He said he's not going to let me affect other people with the record and that he's going to burn the drives that are storing the songs. It was complete madness.
Q: At least it will make for a fun New Year's Eve party. Right?
A: Luckily, we don't think of it that way. I'm not forcing anyone to go, but I can't imagine a better situation than playing onstage with these people on New Year's Eve.
Q: Does the new album happen to have any party jams on it?
A: It's all party jams. Actually, it's about the stories that Cedric was writing down that he was getting from the Ouija board.
Q: That doesn't sound like fun. When it's close to midnight, do you think you might play "Celebration" or "Ladies Night"?
A: Yeah, and we'll do it on roller skates.
Q: I'm going to hold you to that. Continue reading.