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. One night, the lights became so mesmerizing that Gabe became catatonic and started levitating into the air. A snake 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 and disclosed Gabe’s purpose in life — to ensure that mankind went out in style. Hence, Cobra Starship were born…uh, back in New York. The band burst onto the scene with an über-catchy single named “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It).” The song was the lead track off the 2006 soundtrack to Snakes on a Plane, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Its video hit the MTV airwaves that July and featured cameos from Jackson and Pete Wentz. The band spent part of the fall touring with Gym Class Heroes. While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets hit stores that October, marking the band’s official debut, and they continued to tour. In 2007 the band returned with ¡Viva la Cobra!, followed two years later by Hot Mess. The latter album was preceded by “Good Girls Gone Bad,” a Top 40 hit co-penned by Kara DioGuardi and sung by Saporta and Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester. The band kept the party going in 2011 with the release of their fourth album, Night Shade.
