Sparta is an emo band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2001.
All of the members except Matt Miller are former members of At the Drive-In.
After scoring a deal with Geffen (Dreamworks) in 2001, the band released their first EP, entitled "Austere", in early 2002. In August of the same year, Sparta released their debut full-length Wiretap Scars. Although it was not well received by the mainstream emo/rock audience, Sparta maintained its underground following with shows at smaller venues throughout North America and Europe.
In August of 2004, the band released their sophomore album, "Porcelain". After the release, they toured, opening for Incubus.
On May 24, 2005, on the offical Sparta website, it was announced that Paul was released from the band. In a move certain to inspire speculation and rumors, Sparta guitarist and former At the Drive-In bassist, Paul Hinojos, has quit Sparta and has joined The Mars Volta, effective immediately. Assuming the sound manipulation duties of the late Jeremy Ward, Hinojos' role within the band will initially be confined to the off stage audio acrobatics that Ward (who died in 2003) had become reknowned for. Volta band leader, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, is adamant that Hinojos will eventually share the stage with his new bandmates during live performances. "My time with Sparta has run its course, and simply wasn't fun anymore," commented Hinojos in Los Angeles last week. Hinojos, who in 2003 joined The Mars Volta briefly after Ward's untimely death, decided to accept the open invitation from Rodriguez -Lopez to rejoin the band at his leisure. "We've been friends since we were kids, played in bands together for years, and Paul was close to Jeremy," commented Omar, "it's always been clear to me that Paul was the only person who would be appropriate to take Jeremy's place and fill what we feel is an integral role within the band"
Hinojos rejoined Omar and company. midway through their current us tour, although out of courtesy it was decided to leave it to the Sparta camp to make the initial announcement of Paul's departure.