Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is band leader and musical composer of the writing partnership at the core of The Mars Volta. Along with vocalist/lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Rodriguez-Lopez has established himself as one of the most recognizable and influential rock artists of the early twenty-first century. Hailed by the Boston Phoenix as \"one of the 10 most influential performers of the 90\'s\", no other artist of the 20th century has fought, forged, punched, and sculpted their own artistic vision in such a uniquely original way. Defying categorization, Lydia Lunch actively has conquered new territories, and has gained international recognition for the innovative quality of her work.