Author: Jeanette Nguyen
Date: 2008-11-25


Interview:
Fanbolt chatted with frontman Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship about music, celebrities and trendsetting...

Tell us about the second album "!Viva La Cobra!"

G. Saporta: Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy produced it. We basically wrote it last year on the Honda Civic Tour. It was such a big tour and it was all amphitheaters, so we were always stuck in a big parking lot. We didn't have much to do because there were no distractions and we were the first band to play. Then we were done for the whole day. There wasn't even a subway to walk to, so we just started writing songs and had so many great ones at the end of the tour.

What's the story behind the album lyrics?

G. Saporta: I've known Fall Out Boy since we used to play basement shows in Chicago, so these dudes have always been the same dudes. As a friend, you don't see them as being famous even though they're famous, you know? Being on the tour was when it hit us. It was this culture of "celebrity" we're not used to. We were these punk rock kids who'd play on the floor. There were no stages even. The celebrity culture was a shock, especially experiencing it firsthand.

The lyrics are a critique about celebrity culture in a tongue and cheek way, talking a lot of shit and having fun with it.

Is this so-called "celebrity culture" weird for you?

G. Saporta: [Laughs.] I have a security guard with me. [Turns and looks at guard.] It's a little weird. If I just want to walk around, I can't. But in one way, I'm just so flattered, like "Oh wow, people know who I am and care enough to want a photo with me."

I try to hang out with the kids as much as possible. I've been in bands that have had lots of ups and downs, so I appreciate everything so much more. I don't want there to be distance. We take as long as we can to do autograph signings and learn fans' names. My view is these people give me my life, so I feel happy to do as much as I possibly can.

The thing is, people don't expect that. I am kind of an asshole in some ways--not an asshole, but I just speak my mind and not care what others think. Being from New York, you don't say you're sorry. It's like when you bump into someone on the street, you tell them, "Go f*** yourself!" [Laughs.]

That's why I do music. I want to be able to do what I want, how I want and when I want, you know? I speak my mind and it sometimes gets me into trouble, but to the people who support me, I owe them everything. I'm very nice and very approachable. I'll never be like, "F*** you, I'm a f***in' rockstar!"