El Paso, TX has such a powerful local music scene and it has created some enduring favorites in the city, its even created some world famous bands and we are gonna celebrate those El Paso locals who went on to make music all over the globe!

At The Drive-In

At The Drive In is a Post-hardcore band formed in El Paso in 1994 and have become one of the most influential groups in the genre. On top of that, one of the original members is part of another group that helped put El Paso on the musical map worldwide.

In 2011, Rock Sound magazine inducted ‘Relationship of Command’ into the Rock Sound’s Hall Of Fame. Their writer ,Ryan Bird, spoke about the legacy of the album, saying “though At the Drive-In may not have built the road, they were most certainly leading the convoy, allowing those who followed behind to reap the benefits of their navigation while they crashed and burned on the hard shoulder. What remains, however, is a legacy the likes of which may not been seen again.”

Notable bands like ‘Dance, Gavin, Dance’, The Fall of Troy, Underoath, As I Lay Dying, La Dispute, and St. Vincent have all cited At The Drive-In with admiration or as a source of inspiration for their music.

The Mars Volta

The Mars Volta is one of those bands that exploded onto the scene and is still famous worldwide today. One of the original members of the band also helped form At The Drive-In, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez.

The Mars Volta has been featured in blockbuster movies, named by incredible music magazines, and is one of those immensely celebrated bands here in the Borderland.

Sparta

Another remnant of At The Drive-In, Sparta is a post-hardcore band that formed from some of the members of ATDI after they broke up. Achieving mainstream success, the band was on and off for many years but are still successful and thriving today! Including the legend, Jim Ward! Influential El Pasoan who continues to help El Paso stay relevant and iconic. Jim was a driving force in getting global sensation, Coldplay, to have a stop on their tour right here in El Paso!

 

COLDPLAY PERFORMS IN THE EL PASO SUNBOWL 2025

 

Cigarettes After Sex

Arguably one of the biggest bands to come from El Paso is Cigarettes After Sex, with platinum selling records and more music on the horizon, they’ve really done their part to getting El Paso seen on the global stage.

Who did I miss?? What El Paso bands deserve to be on this list??

Coldplay in El Paso, Texas

Take a look at photos taken from El Paso photographer, Christian Churches, from Coldplay’s sold out shows in El Paso, Texas.

Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Christian Churches

El Paso, TX Musician at The 2022 Grammys

Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Roger Argenis

The Most Famous People You Didn’t Know Were El Pasoans

These are just a few of the most famous El Pasoans to grace the earth. Some of them, like Alan Tudyk, have played so many famous characters, its crazy that we could ever forget they were El Paso born!

Gallery Credit: Grizz

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