You may have read misleading headlines elsewhere on the net suggesting the end of The Mars Volta. Actually it's only that drummer Jon Theodore has left.
The band have some US dates coming up, with demo drummer Blake Fleming helping out for the time being.
There's no official statement from the band regarding the departure of their previous, or an appointment of a new drummer.
Their new album 'Amputechture' is about to be released, but the date has been put back from August 21st to September 11th.