Lee Martin, a graphic design sophomore, used his design skills outside the classroom when he started a fan Web site in 2003 for his favorite band, The Mars Volta.
The site, called “The Comatorium,” is named after the band’s 2003 release, “De-Loused In The Comatorium.” The Web site gained popularity as the up-and-coming band — formed in 2001 by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala from the remains of broken-up band At The Drive-In — began to make its own signature music, with roots in Latin, rock and punk, and tour nationally and internationally.
Martin’s dream nearly ended when he had to shut down the site a month after creating it because he did not have the funds to keep it updated.
But the band intervened.
“The manager contacted me and said the band didn’t want to see the site go down,” Martin said. “The band donated money to the site to keep it up.”
The site now depends on donations from fans.
The band’s manager, Kristen Welsh, said she was immediately impressed by Martin’s site and his interpretation of the band’s message.
“I don’t remember how or when I was introduced to ‘The Comatorium,’ I just remember thinking, ‘This site, this kid, understands the aesthetic of The Mars Volta,’” Welsh said in an e-mail. “Maybe it’s because Lee is an artist too, but I was instantly and still am really impressed with the community of creative people who are drawn to ‘The Comatorium.’”
Paul Ellender, an English sophomore and friend of Martin, said the purpose of a band’s Web site should be for people to learn more about the band and get the music out — and “The Comatorium” meets that goal.
The Web site is “a forum in which people can discuss the music and meanings behind it. Thoroughly discussing the music leads to a better understanding,” Ellender said.
Welsh also credited Martin’s passion — not just as an artist, but as a fan of The Mars Volta — for the success of his site.
“I’ll take a kid from Louisiana who’s creative, honest and passionate over a high-tech New York Web-design and ‘marketing’ firm any day,” she said.
Martin said the band’s manager hired him to run The Mars Volta’s official site in December 2004, and he now gets paid to run the site. He still maintains “The Comatorium” through fan donations.
As he sipped his fourth cup of coffee before beginning a long night of Web design, Martin said maintaining both “The Comatorium” and The Mars Volta’s official site can be demanding.
Martin said his job revolves around deadlines, which can come at short notice, depending on what the band is doing.
“Last Friday, they told me I had to design an introduction page to announce the band’s U.S. tour,” Martin said. “Then they told me it was due the following Monday.”
Martin said the work can also be inconsistent.
“Some days, there’s nothing to do,” Martin said. “And some days, the band’s about to release an album or about to go on tour, and the work is non-stop.”
Martin said he always has been interested in Web site design and having his work shown to such a big audience.
“It’s crazy how my popularity on the Internet as a designer went with the popularity of the band,” Martin said.
Martin said the highlight of working for his favorite band was when The Mars Volta flew him to their concert in Los Angeles.
Martin met the band and attended its after-party.
“That’s where I met everybody, and they told me ‘thank you,’” Martin said.
Apart from concert and merchandise perks, Martin said this job is the beginning of his dream career.
“My dream job is to be a designer in the music industry,” he said. “Your work is directly proportional to the band’s popularity. It’s a really good way to get your name out there.”
The Mars Volta will perform in New Orleans on April 28 at The Orpheum Theatre. The Mars Volta’s new release, “Frances the Mute,” has sold more than 100,000 copies since its release last Tuesday, according to HITS Magazine.