June 21, 2008
Cobra Starship – Ryland Blackinton

C = Cathy, R = Ryland

C: For the record, can you state your name and what you do in the band?
R: My name is Ryland and I play guitar and keyboards.

C: What do you look most forward to this summer on Warped Tour?
R: I’m looking forward to seeing some of our friends that we’ve toured with in the past, like The Academy Is and Gym Class Heroes. I’m also looking forward to seeing some new bands that I don’t know much about – I saw Every Time I Die play earlier and that was pretty cool. I’m going to try to broaden my horizons a little bit and get into some new music. And, you know, maybe catch up on some not getting a tan… Whatever the opposite of that is. Hanging around in the dark.
C: Staying pale?
R: Yea, staying pale. I’m going to catch up on my pale.

C: What are your plans for after you’re done with Warped Tour?
R: As soon as we finish Warped Tour we have a day off, and then we go to Australia for a tour with Panic At The Disco.

C: What is it like sharing your living space with a girl?
R: It’s not so bad. It’s just hard – sometimes I want to use her exfoliate before I go to bed at night and she gets really upset with me… But she shouldn’t leave it out! –laughs- I mean, I guess we do try to be a bit more respectful when we know there’s a lady around, naturally. Boys will be boys, but you’ve got to clean it up a little when there’s a feminine vibe going on. We’re happy to have it, that little female touch.

C: Do you have any funny or interesting tour stories you could share?
R: This one time, on a day off in Denver, we were snowed in and a car crashed into us. These guys were all drunk and they tried to fight us. They were like, “Fuck you, man. Why don’t you go play a tour or something?”… It was so weird. I think they just wanted to bump into us and then go, but instead they crashed and got their car stuck. We called the cops and told them to take their time since the other guys weren’t going anywhere. They were digging their car out, trying to push it, and cursing at each other… That’s the best story I have.

C: What was your reasoning for coming out with a Spanish version of your song “Guilty Pleasure”?
R: We realized that, with Gabe being from Uruguay and Alex being from Spain, that we have a pretty strong Latin fanbase. We wanted to give our love to MTV Tres, too. So, we did it. Hopefully we’ll be able to do more songs in more languages. I always thought that was pretty cool, like when you hear an old Beatles song in French. It’s funny.

C: Have there been any decisions that you have made as a band that at the time seemed good, but in retrospect were bad ideas?
R: To wear all white. In a day and a half, we didn’t have enough money to pay for the laundry and clean everything. So, we just look like these dirty guys. That was a bad idea.

C: If you could choose any animal to be your mascot, besides a cobra, what would it be and why?
R: Python… Just kidding!!
C: That’s practically the same thing!
R: A wildcat.

C: If you were stuck on a deserted island with no food and no one but your band members, who would you eat first and why?
R: Victoria, just because of her shapeliness. –laughs- That’s messed up, I don’t want to answer that one.

C: That was my last question.
R: Oh man!
C: Any closing statements?
R: I’d eat my own leg before I’d eat anybody in my band.