At the Drive-In is a post-hardcore indie rock band from El Paso, Texas. Formed in 1993 by Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Jim Ward, the band became known early on for its relentless touring schedule and blistering live performances. In 1996, the group caught a break when the owners of a Los Angeles bar were so impressed with the band's performance they decided to fund and help release the band’s debut LP, Acrobatic Tenement. Over the next few years, the group’s jagged aggression and anthemic material slowly built up to the mainstream crossover success its third album, 2000's Relationship of Command. Songs like "One Armed Scissor" caught fire on modern rock radio stations, putting a sudden high-profile spotlight on the band that took a toll on its members' passion for the project. Feeling restrained by the stylistic limitations At the Drive-In imposed, Bixler-Zavala and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez disbanded the group in 2001 to form The Mars Volta, which would explore their interest in jazz, progressive rock, and psychedelia.
