Formation of Cobra Starship:
Gabe Saporta was bassist and lead vocalist of the pop punk band Midtown until they disbanded in 2004. By 2006 he had put together a new band and christened it Cobra Starship after a name on the back of Saporta's favorite vintage jacket. The group's debut single was "Snakes On a Plane (Bring It)" used as a theme song for the comedy film Snakes On a Plane released in 2006. This incarnation of Cobra Starship also featured guest vocalists Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, William Beckett of The Academy Is..., and Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds.
Group Members:
- Gabe Saporta - lead vocals
- Alex Suarez - bass
- Ryland Blackinton - lead guitar
- Victoria Asher - keytar
- Nate Novarro - drums
'While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets':
While the single generated a buzz for Cobra Starship, the group continued work on their debut album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets. In an amusing legend he recounts, Gabe Saporta says that a talking cobra revealed to him his purpose in life which is to make sure mankind goes out in style by "teaching hipsters to not take themselves so seriously and by telling emo kids to stop being pussies." The first album was released in October 2006. The album topped Billboard's Heatseekers chart, but with no additional hit singles it failed to break into the top 100 of the album chart.
'Viva La Cobra!':
A year later in October 2007, the second Cobra Starship album, Viva La Cobra! was released. The band set out on a heavy touring schedule supporting the album. They were part of the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour in early 2008. Other bands on the tour included Metro Sation and We the Kings. Cobra Starship also participated in 2008's Warped Tour. The album peaked this time inside the top 100 of the album chart.
'Hot Mess' and Pop Breakthrough for Cobra Starship:
Cobra Starship drew some significant attention in the summer of 2008 when they created a cover of Katy Perry's breakthrough hit "I Kissed a Girl" and called it "I Kissed a Boy." In April 2009 with word out that they were working on a new album, Cobra Starship's single "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous" was released namedropping Fall Out Boy's bassist. In May the single "Good Girls Go Bad" appeared as the first available track from the Hot Mess album. It included guest vocals from Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and the song was in the pop top 10 by August 2009.
