Gabe Saporta
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Eduardo "Gabe" Saporta (born October 11, 1979) is the lead singer and primary creative force behind the synthpop
band Cobra Starship
. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk
band Midtown
.
Cobra Starship
is signed to the Decaydance record label. The band Cobra Starship released their second album ¡Viva La Cobra!
on October 23, 2007. Their third album, Hot Mess, was released on August 11, 2009, and debuted at #4 on Billboard 200 albums chart with sales of more than 42,000.
, Uruguay
, the oldest of three children of Diego and Jeanette Saporta. His parents' families, both Jewish, emigrated to South America
from Europe
during World War II
. His father is a Sephardic Jew from Spain
, who became a doctor in Uruguay, and his mother is from Austria
. His family emigrated to the United States
when he was four, settling in Queens, New York, where his father sold scarves on the street before going to medical school for seven years. When his father completed his education, the family relocated to Springfield, New Jersey when Saporta was 12. When Saporta was 15, his parents divorced and he moved in with his father.
Saporta attended the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
in West Orange, New Jersey
. He developed an interest in music at the age of eight. Saporta was greatly influenced by hip-hop music and later discovered an affinity towards punk and hardcore punk, listening to bands such as Gorilla Biscuits
, NOFX
and Lagwagon
. These bands influenced him greatly, and as a teenager, he adopted a straight edge
lifestyle.
Of his teenage years, Saporta recalled, "I was pretty much just as obnoxious as I am now, but louder. I went against the grain a little bit, and you always get in trouble when you do that...Teachers hated me." He and his friends considered forming a band and performing locally. The concerts grew in popularity in his small town, until about 500 people would attend each week. Saporta then joined another band, Humble Beginnings
. Saporta attended Rutgers University
and majored in philosophy.
. The group released one EP
and three LP albums: The Sacrifice of Life, Save the World Lose the Girl, Living Well Is The Best Revenge and Forget What You Know, respectively. The group eventually disbanded in 2005, but still maintain a significant following.
After the breakup of Midtown, Saporta decided to create a side-project which would be influenced by techno
and dance music. He discussed this with John Janick, head of the label Fueled by Ramen
. Saporta then signed to Pete Wentz's Decaydance label, a subsidiary of Fueled by Ramen. In 2006, Saporta, William Beckett
of The Academy Is...
, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes
, and Maja Ivarsson
of The Sounds
appeared on Cobra Starship's first notable single, "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
", and later appeared in a music video for the song. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Snakes on a Plane
and played during the closing credits of the film. The song is also featured on the Cobra Starship album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
.
The official line-up of Cobra Starship
is Alex Suarez
, Victoria Asher
, Nate Novarro, and Ryland Blackinton
. Victoria Asher replaced the group's original keytarist, Elisa Schwartz.
The group's second album, ¡Viva La Cobra!
, was released on October 23, 2007. The album includes the hit song "Guilty Pleasure" (the video budget was spent on a sports car for the group so they made a 'home edition' video).
The third Cobra Starship studio album, titled Hot Mess, was released on August 11, 2009. The album includes the band's hit song "Good Girls Go Bad
," which also features vocals by Gossip Girl
actress Leighton Meester
, which was released digitally on May 11, 2009.
On October 21, 2009, Gabe Saporta and Cobra Starship took their first trip via a private jet, which the group Tweeted
about enthusiastically. The trip was to Bloomington, Indiana
, to attend a charity concert event at Indiana University
, which also featured DJ Girl Talk
. The event was Victoria's Secret
's PINK Nation B-Town Bash, which took place on October 22, 2009 and benefited Middle Way House, a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. Indiana University
students competed against five other institutions during the summer to host the event, which raised $5,000 for Middle Way House.
On June 5, 2010 Gabe appeared on MTV's When I Was 17
, in which he discussed his lifestyle as a teenager.
.
Saporta submitted his face for the "Faces Of Mars" event for 30 Seconds to Mars
, and is now featured on one of the many different album covers of their third album This Is War
.
Gabe is also good friends with Fall Out Boy
's Pete Wentz. Pete posted this on his official site elaborating on their relationship saying, "Gabe taught me the idea that our lives are about service to others. The night I freaked out and lost my mind- Gabe Saporta got on a plane no questions asked and was at my house the next day. He hung with me through my lame freak outs and made me laugh when we free styled late at night in my living room. He never assumed shit about me and is one of the most fiercely loyal people I have ever met."
Gabe Saporta confirmed in an interview for Alternative Press Magazine that he and his five year girlfriend Bianca Dueñas had called it quits in 2009. In OK Magazine it was confirmed that Saporta is now dating fashion designer Erin Fetherston
as of early 2011.
Gabe Saporta has two brothers, Ricardo Saporta and Adrian Saporta as well as two step siblings, Sarah and Eric.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
. He was previously the lead singer, bassist, and lyricist for the pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band Midtown
Midtown (band)
Midtown was an American pop punk band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk and punk rock...
.
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
is signed to the Decaydance record label. The band Cobra Starship released their second album ¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
on October 23, 2007. Their third album, Hot Mess, was released on August 11, 2009, and debuted at #4 on Billboard 200 albums chart with sales of more than 42,000.
Early life
Gabe Saporta was born in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, the oldest of three children of Diego and Jeanette Saporta. His parents' families, both Jewish, emigrated to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His father is a Sephardic Jew from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, who became a doctor in Uruguay, and his mother is from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. His family emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was four, settling in Queens, New York, where his father sold scarves on the street before going to medical school for seven years. When his father completed his education, the family relocated to Springfield, New Jersey when Saporta was 12. When Saporta was 15, his parents divorced and he moved in with his father.
Saporta attended the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union
Golda Och Academy is a private Jewish day school that offers primary and religious education for Jewish children from pre-K through 12th grade. Until June 2011 the school was called Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union...
in West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
. He developed an interest in music at the age of eight. Saporta was greatly influenced by hip-hop music and later discovered an affinity towards punk and hardcore punk, listening to bands such as Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits are a New York City-based vegan straight edge hardcore band consisting of Anthony "Civ" Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios, Alex Brown and Luke Abbey. The band is currently signed to Revelation Records.-Early career:...
, NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
and Lagwagon
Lagwagon
Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, just outside Santa Barbara, California. They formed in 1990 and went on hiatus and reunited several times over the years...
. These bands influenced him greatly, and as a teenager, he adopted a straight edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
lifestyle.
Of his teenage years, Saporta recalled, "I was pretty much just as obnoxious as I am now, but louder. I went against the grain a little bit, and you always get in trouble when you do that...Teachers hated me." He and his friends considered forming a band and performing locally. The concerts grew in popularity in his small town, until about 500 people would attend each week. Saporta then joined another band, Humble Beginnings
Humble Beginnings
Humble Beginnings was an American pop punk band from New Jersey. While never gaining large-scale success, many of the band's members went on to mainstream success with other outfits....
. Saporta attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and majored in philosophy.
Career
Saporta was a vocalist, lyricist and bassist in the band MidtownMidtown (band)
Midtown was an American pop punk band from Springfield, New Jersey. Midtown was formed in November 1998 by three Rutgers University students, but soon became a quartet. The band took advantage of the fertile New Jersey punk scene to develop a sound that combined elements of pop punk and punk rock...
. The group released one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
and three LP albums: The Sacrifice of Life, Save the World Lose the Girl, Living Well Is The Best Revenge and Forget What You Know, respectively. The group eventually disbanded in 2005, but still maintain a significant following.
After the breakup of Midtown, Saporta decided to create a side-project which would be influenced by techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
and dance music. He discussed this with John Janick, head of the label Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen
Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...
. Saporta then signed to Pete Wentz's Decaydance label, a subsidiary of Fueled by Ramen. In 2006, Saporta, William Beckett
William Beckett (singer)
,William Eugene Beckett Jr. was the lead singer of the band The Academy Is... , who were signed to Atlantic Records/Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance Records. While still in high school in 2002, Beckett and guitarist Mike Carden came together from rival bands in Chicago to form The Academy Is......
of The Academy Is...
The Academy Is...
The Academy Is... was an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2003. Before dispersing, they were signed by the Decaydance imprint of the Fueled by Ramen label. They were originally known as "The Academy", but added the "Is..." in 2004 to avoid legal complications with other...
, Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
, and Maja Ivarsson
Maja Ivarsson
Maja Ivarsson, is a Swedish singer and lead vocalist of the Swedish New Wave band The Sounds.-Career:The Sounds were formed in 1998 in Helsingborg, by childhood friends guitarist and vocalist Felix Rodriguez and bassist Johan Bengtsson, who later invited drummer Fredrik Nilsson on board...
of The Sounds
The Sounds
The Sounds are a Swedish Indie Rock band. Formed in Helsingborg in 1999, the group's musical style has been compared to New Wave acts such as Blondie, The Cars, the Epoxies and Missing Persons....
appeared on Cobra Starship's first notable single, "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
"Snakes on a Plane ", is the debut single of dance rock band Cobra Starship from the soundtrack album Snakes on a Plane: The Album...
", and later appeared in a music video for the song. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the movie Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
and played during the closing credits of the film. The song is also featured on the Cobra Starship album While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets
While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets is the debut album from Cobra Starship. It was released on October 10, 2006 in the U.S., and on October 17, 2006 in Canada...
.
The official line-up of Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
is Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez
Alex Suarez is the bass player and additional keyboardist and vocalist for Cobra Starship as well as co-founder of This is Ivy League, a band created with fellow Cobra Starship member and high school best friend Ryland Blackinton.-Early life:...
, Victoria Asher
Victoria Asher
Victoria Jane Asher , is known to Cobra Starship fans as Vicky-T, and can be seen in some of the music videos produced by the band, which she is the keytarist for. She is the daughter of producer/manager/musician Peter Asher of the hit band Peter & Gordon, who were part of the British Invasion...
, Nate Novarro, and Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton
Ryland Blackinton is the lead guitarist for the band Cobra Starship. He is from Wilmington MA, but was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island on March 31, 1982. Before joining Cobra Starship, Ryland, along with high school best friend Alex Suarez formed the folk/pop duo This Is Ivy League...
. Victoria Asher replaced the group's original keytarist, Elisa Schwartz.
The group's second album, ¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva La Cobra!
¡Viva la Cobra! is the second studio album by alternative dance band Cobra Starship. The album was released October 23, 2007. It was produced by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump.- Background :...
, was released on October 23, 2007. The album includes the hit song "Guilty Pleasure" (the video budget was spent on a sports car for the group so they made a 'home edition' video).
The third Cobra Starship studio album, titled Hot Mess, was released on August 11, 2009. The album includes the band's hit song "Good Girls Go Bad
Good Girls Go Bad
"Good Girls Go Bad" is a song recorded by American pop punk band Cobra Starship with guest vocals by Leighton Meester. It was the first single released from their third studio album, Hot Mess. The song was released digitally through iTunes on May 11, 2009...
," which also features vocals by Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
actress Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
, which was released digitally on May 11, 2009.
On October 21, 2009, Gabe Saporta and Cobra Starship took their first trip via a private jet, which the group Tweeted
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
about enthusiastically. The trip was to Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, to attend a charity concert event at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, which also featured DJ Girl Talk
Girl Talk (musician)
Gregg Michael Gillis , better known by his stage name Girl Talk, is an American musician specializing in mashups and digital sampling. Gillis has released five LPs on the record label Illegal Art and EPs on 333 and 12 Apostles....
. The event was Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
's PINK Nation B-Town Bash, which took place on October 22, 2009 and benefited Middle Way House, a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
students competed against five other institutions during the summer to host the event, which raised $5,000 for Middle Way House.
On June 5, 2010 Gabe appeared on MTV's When I Was 17
When I Was 17
When I Was 17 is an MTV television show which features celebrities of today and looks back on "when they were 17". The show features photos as well as interviews with family and friends...
, in which he discussed his lifestyle as a teenager.
Personal life
Gabe Saporta is a vegetarian and an active member of PETAPeta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
.
Saporta submitted his face for the "Faces Of Mars" event for 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor Jared Leto , Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević...
, and is now featured on one of the many different album covers of their third album This Is War
This Is War
This Is War is the third studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released through Virgin Records and EMI on December 8, 2009. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200.- Background and development :...
.
Gabe is also good friends with Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
's Pete Wentz. Pete posted this on his official site elaborating on their relationship saying, "Gabe taught me the idea that our lives are about service to others. The night I freaked out and lost my mind- Gabe Saporta got on a plane no questions asked and was at my house the next day. He hung with me through my lame freak outs and made me laugh when we free styled late at night in my living room. He never assumed shit about me and is one of the most fiercely loyal people I have ever met."
Gabe Saporta confirmed in an interview for Alternative Press Magazine that he and his five year girlfriend Bianca Dueñas had called it quits in 2009. In OK Magazine it was confirmed that Saporta is now dating fashion designer Erin Fetherston
Erin Fetherston
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, designer Erin Fetherston graduated from UC Berkeley before attending Parson's School of Design in New York.In January 2005, she first presented her eponymous label during the Paris Haute Couture Shows...
as of early 2011.
Gabe Saporta has two brothers, Ricardo Saporta and Adrian Saporta as well as two step siblings, Sarah and Eric.
Guest vocals
Gabe Saporta was featured on the songs:| Song | Artist | Year | |- | Up Song | Donots | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What a Catch, Donnie What a Catch, Donnie "What a Catch, Donnie" is Fall Out Boy's second digital download single and third radio single from their fifth studio album Folie à Deux . It was released as part of the build up to the new album on iTunes on October 14, 2008 and charted on the US and Canadian singles chart... |
Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008... |
2008 | Cameo appearance; sings the chorus Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy "Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single taken from their 2003 album, Take This to Your Grave. The breakthrough mainstream success that Fall Out Boy received with the follow-up release of their 2005 album From Under the Cork Tree... at the end of the song. |
||||
| Crowded Room | The Academy Is... | 2008 | Gabe is part of the yelling in the beginning of the song | ||||
| Hey There Ophelia | MC Lars | 2009 | |||||
| T.I.N.A. | Stunnaman | 2009 | |||||
| Shut Your Mouth | Cisco Adler | 2010 | |||||
| What Happens On The Dancefloor | Alexandra Burke | 2010 |