At The Drive In

At The Drive-In was founded in El Paso, Texas, in 1994 by guitarist Jim Ward and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala. The band quickly established their distinct sound and tireless work ethic, releasing their debut EP, “Hell Paso,” in November 1994 through their own imprint, Western Breed Records. This was followed by an extensive 2,000-mile tour across Texas. Continuous lineup changes eventually stabilized with Cedric Bixler-Zavala (lead vocals), Jim Ward (guitar and backing vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar), Paul Hinojos (bass), and Tony Hajjar (drums). This core lineup would define their most impactful period, driven by a relentless touring schedule that saw them playing in basements and small venues, building a fan base through word-of-mouth. Their early tours included a 42-day, 10,000-mile journey across the United States in 1995 and a 100-day, 24,000-mile tour in 1997, performing alongside bands such as AFI, J Church, and Face to Face.

The band’s debut album, “Acrobatic Tenement,” was released in July 1996 through Flipside Records. Their second album, “In/Casino/Out,” arrived in August 1998 via Fearless Records, showcasing a maturation in their sound, recorded largely live to capture their intense stage presence. The 1999 EP “Vaya” further cemented their presence before their breakthrough. In September 2000, At The Drive-In released their third studio album, “Relationship of Command,” on Grand Royal Records. This album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 116 on the Billboard 200 and number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. Its singles, “One Armed Scissor,” “Rolodex Propaganda,” and “Invalid Litter Dept.,” all charted on the UK Singles Chart, with “One Armed Scissor” also hitting number 26 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The band’s rise to prominence included national television performances on shows like “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Despite their growing success, At The Drive-In went on an indefinite hiatus in March 2001, citing mental and physical exhaustion and artistic differences among members. Bixler-Zavala and Rodríguez-López went on to form The Mars Volta, while Ward, Hinojos, and Hajjar formed Sparta. The band reunited in 2012 for a tour that included performances at Coachella and Lollapalooza. A second reunion occurred in 2016, leading to their fourth studio album, “in•ter a•li•a,” released on May 5, 2017, through Rise Records. This album reached number 39 on the US Billboard 200 and number 30 on the UK Albums Chart. The band officially announced an indefinite hiatus in November 2018, with Bixler-Zavala later stating that their chapter was “permanently sealed forever.”