Gabe Saporta - Biography

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.

Early life

Gabe Saporta was born in Montevideo, 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.

Career

Saporta was a vocalist, lyricist and bassist in the band Midtown. 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.

Personal life

Gabe Saporta is a vegetarian and an active member of PETA.

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.

Guest vocals

Gabe Saporta was featured on the songs:

External links

• Gabe Saporta official website
• New York Times article about Gabe Saporta
• Gabe Saporta on Twitter
• Gabe Saporta Fanpage