Cobra Starship

by Corey Apar
As the legend of Cobra Starship would have it, frontman Gabe Saporta fled into the deserts of Arizona one day to find the true meaning of his existence away from his emo-rock band, Midtown. Saporta spent days and nights pondering life, mysterious lights constantly plaguing the nighttime sky above him. One distinct night, the lights became so mesmerizing that Gabe ultimately became catatonic and started levitating into the air. A snake, however, suddenly came out of nowhere, bit his neck, and he awoke to find a talking cobra from the future nursing his wounds. This enigmatic cobra went on to explain the end of the world (no salvation for anyone) and that he was thus sent to find Gabe to disclose his life's purpose -- to ensure that mankind went out in style. And as the cobra revealed, Gabe must complete this "by teaching hipsters to not take themselves so seriously and by telling emo kids to stop being pussies." Hence, Cobra Starship was born...uh, back in New York.
Taking their name from words written on the backs of Saporta's favorite vintage jackets, the band burst onto the scene with the über-catchy dance-pop-rock of "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)." The song -- which featured Saporta performing alongside Maja Ivarsson (the Sounds), Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), and William Beckett (The Academy Is...) -- was the lead track off the remix-heavy soundtrack for August 2006's horror comedy, Snakes on a Plane, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Its video hit the MTV airwaves that July and featured cameos from Jackson and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz. Meanwhile, Cobra Starship continued work on a full-length album of their own. The band signed to Decaydance that same month and spent part of autumn on tour with Gym Class Heroes. While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets hit stores that October, and Saporta continued to tour alongside new bandmates Elisa Schwartz (keytar), the Ivy League's Alex Suarez (bass) and Ryland Blackinton (guitar), and Armor for Sleep drum tech Nate Navarro (drums). Schwartz parted ways with the band in early 2007 and was replaced by Victoria Asher, and the new lineup returned that fall for the release of ¡Viva la Cobra!