News > The Mars Volta
Another Shakeup In The Mars Volta Rhythm Section
By Fernando Scoczynski, November 20th, 2009
Last month, The Mars Volta canceled a gig in Raleigh, NC, for no apparent reason. The show was supposed to be the last of the American leg of the tour, supporting their latest album Octahedron.
Ever since, rumors have been going around that Thomas “Predator” Pridgen, the band’s drummer since 2007, had up and left during a band rehearsal in Raleigh, due to a disagreement with singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Some people claim to have seen Pridgen leave the venue in a taxi.
Pridgen has now confirmed the departure via Facebook: Two days after this exchange was screenshotted, when asked which songs he played on the latest Juliette Lewis record, and what were the future plans for The Mars Volta, he replied, ”I played the whole Juliette Lewis record… And yes I’m not in TMV anymore but it’s all good. I’m 25, I’ve done enough now not to have to be someone’s employee… I feel more free, honestly it’s a good feeling.”
It is widely believed that The Mars Volta’s previous drummer Jon Theodore left the band in very similar circumstances, to get out from under the pressure of control freak band leaders Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez López.
Rumors identify one Dave Elitch as Pridgen’s likely replacement. Elitch apparently spoke of rehearsing with the band in Guadalajara, Mexico. A European tour is set to start in a few days.
About Fernando Scoczynski
Fernando Scoczynski Filho, aka FernandoDANTE, is a Brazilian Law School student who thought long and hard about doing Journalism in College, but ultimately gave up that path. However, his love for music (and writing about music) hasn’t diminished, so he joined the Antiquiet force.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Really bummed to hear this. Guess I saw one of his last shows then. Caught them in Nashville right before this. Met the dude outside the venue and was cool as shit. Signed stuff. Wish him all the luck in the future.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 PM
i don’t get the predator picture. i mean I like it, I feel like the website is a little more complete now that its the first thing that I see, but I still wonder.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Have you seen a picture of Thomas, stu? Even better, a video? HE’S THE FUCKING PREDATOR!!! Except a bit more handsome, less fang-y.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:02 PM
This sucks. I doubt they’ll find a drummer to top Pridgen, he’s a pretty exceptional talent. So was Theodore. I can see Bixler-Zavala and Lopez as a pain in the ass to work with, specially for a drummer. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all works out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:06 PM
The real question is…Are we gonna get a review of Xenophanes?
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 PM
SHIT, Omar has ANOTHER album out already? And I just found out that he’s released a live album in September. And hey, there’s another one coming out NEXT month! Dammit, this guy releases solo albums faster than the time it takes to digest them.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:41 AM
Kevin, you and I were at the same show, I met them too. I’m bummed about Thomas, he was a pretty awesome drummer, but hopefully he’ll get something going.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Damn right he does. Dude is a machine. We need an online discography to keep up with all of them.
I’m bummed to Joey but knowing TMV they will bounce back.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Yeah… I am actually more eager to hear what else Pridgen does next rather than TMV.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Predator???
LOL
Im glad they kicked him out, never liked him.
The only true Volta Drummer without that employee feeling was Theodore, he didnt received orders on stage like the others, at least didnt follow them, he didnt have that SLAVE image.
I miss those days.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 PM
@Kevin – to answer your question, we can barely keep up with the guy and all his solo releases. Caught wind of this one, and while it’s interesting, I can’t bring myself to jump down his rabbit hole at this time.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Please write some more articles so that picture will go further down!
November 24th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I prefer Theodore as drummer.
Prigden was too much about the fill, fill, fill.
I felt like his personality in drumming was kind of limited.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:59 AM
DIE PRIDGEN!
November 24th, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Haha. Whoa.
You know what though… Thomas Pridgen deserves more respect than that. He’s a good drummer, he’s just got a mostly gospel background and somewhat of an ego problem. His style wasn’t a good fit for TMV anyway. Pridgen’s next move will prove exactly what kind of drummer he is. Winning Guitar Center’s Drum-Off and having everything handed to him for it… and then OVERPLAYING an entire Mars Volta album doesn’t make you the shit, and he needs to realize it.
But yeah… John Theodore is THE FUCKING MAN. In everything he does. I found that “One Day As A Lion” EP to be refreshingly tasteful.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:22 PM
I was really into TMV for a bit, but those two divas just need to shut up and play. From their no show at the Musicares Anthony Kiedis benefit to their constant pissing in my ears over the past few records, I am over them like America is over Adam Lambert.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:33 AM
Good job FernandoDANTE? This article is really just a bunch of regurgitated facebook dawdling. Fucking Br.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Facebook dawdling which was later confirmed by the band, and we were amongst the first to report it.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
This is probably the most horrible news I’ve gotten in a while. And fuck these Steve Emory’s, FernandoDANTE, this is what reporting is like nowadays.
Get with it.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Thank you, Mariaah. And we were right about Dave Elitch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtiEFv4YURY Smaller drum kit. Guy sounds ok, but he probably has some adapting to do. I remember Thomas sounded kinda bad when he started touring with the Volta. Also, radically different setlist. Much more focused on the first two albums: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-mars-volta/2009/cirkus-stockholm-sweden-43d723d3.html
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 PM
guy got an afro, nuff said
December 8th, 2009 at 7:41 PM
I’ve always thought that the Mars Volta would benefit from a solid jazz drummer. It’s obvious that Omar has strict boundaries about how his sound is presented both live and in the studio; a drummer with a background rooted in playing with jazz ensembles would not only provide Omar with a well rounded and formidable talent, but also one more well used to following a script when told. After all, the Mars Volta is not a traditional rock band: Omar and Cedric ARE the Mars Volta, and the other musicians comprises the Mars Volta Group (see liner notes to Amputeccture or Bedlam…) If Omar didn’t put his foot down about what was played and how, it simply wouldn’t be the same band any longer.
December 15th, 2009 at 3:19 AM
Saw them in London last night, I was anxious about what to expect. But Dave Elitch blew any concerns out the window, he absolutely killed it. My god what a phenomenal drummer. DON’T LOSE THIS ONE CEDRIC!!
December 17th, 2009 at 1:53 PM
wtf iv seen volta 7 times now and he was my favriot drummer to date last i caught him was at the ventura theature in cali and he was fucking sick hes solos were off the hook its a bummer hes gone but maby it was the acid who knows aha
January 31st, 2010 at 5:18 PM
Didnt know they had lost Pridgen till i saw them in Sydney on the 2oth of jan. The New guy killed it though . played all the parts and didnt miss it all and hit them so hard he was out of his seat some times. I still think theodore wa sthe most organic but lets face it itS OMARS BAND AND THEY ARE PAID TO TOUR WITH ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND RESPECTED BANDS ON THE PLANET so its all good
so …yeah the new guy was awesome – good mix between Theodore and Pridgen
peace