Cobra (American band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Cobra was a glam metal group originating from Memphis, Tennessee, active during the early 1980s. Established in 1982, the band issued an album in 1983 which led to tours alongside notable acts such as Quiet Riot and Nazareth. The group is recognized for featuring musicians who later became part of well-known bands, including future Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison and Krokus guitarist Mandy Meyer. Cobra dissolved in 1984.
History
Following his departure from Krokus after the Hardware tour in 1982, guitarist Mandy Meyer relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, to form a new band with fellow Swiss musicians vocalist Tommy Andris and bassist Tommy Keiser, both previously members of Swiss band Roxane. Andris was subsequently replaced by former Target lead singer Jimi Jamison. The ensemble was completed by Memphis native Jack Holder on guitar and keyboards (formerly of Black Oak Arkansas) and drummer Jeff Klaven. Under the management of Butch Stone—who also managed Target, Krokus, and Black Oak Arkansas—Cobra secured a contract with Epic Records. Their only album, produced by Tom Allom, titled First Strike, was released in 1983 and reached the top position on the import chart of British magazine Kerrang!.
The track "Blood On Your Money" gained exposure through MTV, while "Looking at You" and "Travelin' Man" were featured on the TV program Club. Cobra toured across the United States, supporting Quiet Riot, Nazareth, and Krokus. A live performance from November 27, 1983, in Memphis was broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour and partially circulated via bootlegs such as Live Attack! and Only You Can Rock Me. This concert included unreleased songs like "I'm a Fighter," which was later covered by Van Zant. Despite achieving moderate commercial success, diverging ambitions among members resulted in their disbandment in 1984.
Post-breakup
After Cobra's dissolution, Jamison became the lead vocalist for AOR band Survivor, contributing to several top-ten hits throughout the 1980s. Meyer returned to Europe and joined the British band Asia for their 1985 album Astra. He subsequently collaborated with Stealin Horses and Ashton, co-wrote House of Lords' debut single "I Wanna Be Loved," and formed Katmandü alongside former Fastway singer Dave King; their eponymous album was released in 1991.
Meyer rejoined Gotthard between 1996 and 2003 before reuniting with Krokus in 2005. He is also part of the German metal band Unisonic. Drummer Klaven contributed to Krokus' 1984 release The Blitz, while bassist Keiser appeared on their albums Change of Address and Alive and Screamin' in 1986. Keiser later performed with German rock band Craaft; Klaven formed Royal Jelly with former Foreigner vocalist Johnny Edwards and Kingdom Come guitarist Danny Stag, releasing their debut album in 1994. Holder remained active in Memphis as a performer, producer, session musician, and sideman for artists including Tracy Chapman and Buddy Guy.
Jamison passed away on September 1, 2014, due to a hemorrhagic brain stroke with methamphetamine intoxication as a contributing factor; Holder died in early 2015 after a battle with cancer.
One-time Reunion
On October 25, 2015, the remaining members Meyer, Keiser, and Klaven came together again at Memphis's Hard Rock Cafe for the "Jam for Jimi Jamison" tribute event. This concert featured Jamison's son-in-law Todd Poole along with other musicians. Their performance included tracks from First Strike as well as a rendition of Krokus' "Screaming in the Night."
In 2011, Meyer revisited Cobra's repertoire by performing live at Switzerland’s Rock Oz'Arènes festival with German singer Hagen Grohe under the name Katmandü. The setlist comprised songs co-written by Meyer that had been recorded by Cobra and other groups.
Discography
| Album | Year | Label | Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showallUK Import Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Strike | 1983 | Epic Records | No. 1 |
Additional Releases
Although Cobra prepared material intended for a second album, these compositions were never formally recorded but were performed during live shows. These tracks are available on 1982 Demos and live bootleg recordings such as Live Attack and Only You Can Rock Me. The track "I'm a Fighter," co-written by Meyer, Jamison, and Andris for this unreleased album, was later recorded by Van Zant in 1985. Van Zant's version achieved No. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart; it also gained recognition as a wrestling anthem and served as the theme for WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff.
| Single | Album | Year | Artist | Label | United StatesUS Billboard Album | United StatesUS Billboard 100 | United StatesUS Mainstream Rock Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I'm a Fighter" | Van Zant | 1985 | Van Zant | Geffen Records | No. 170 | No. 30 | No. 16 |
In 1994, Swiss hard rock ensemble Gotthard, produced by ex-Krokus bassist Chris von Rohr, recorded a cover of Cobra's "Travelin' Man" on their platinum-certified chart-topping album Dial Hard. Meyer became part of Gotthard three years afterward. Later in 2002, Gotthard also included a cover of Cobra's "Looking At You" on their ballad compilation One Life One Soul, which was released through Nuclear Blast.
| Single | Album | Year | Artist | Label | Template:Country data CHTemplate:Namespace detect showallSwiss Chart | Album Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Travelin' Man" | Dial Hard | 1994 | Gotthard | BMG | No. 1 | Platinum |
| "Looking at You" | One Life One Soul | 2002 | Gotthard | Nuclear Blast |