King Kobra
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
King Kobra is an American heavy metal band founded by drummer Carmine Appice after his tenure with Ozzy Osbourne from 1983 to 1984.<ref name="LarkinHM">Template:Cite book</ref>
History
For their first two albums, the band consisted of Appice with four relatively unknown musicians: vocalist Mark Free, guitarist David Michael-Philips, guitarist Mick Sweda, and bassist Johnny Rod.<ref name="LarkinHM"/> After two albums on Capitol Records—Ready to Strike (November 9, 1985) and Thrill of a Lifetime (1986)—and the independent release King Kobra III in 1988, Appice decided to dissolve the band and join guitarist John Sykes for his Blue Murder project in 1989.<ref name=disc>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=amazon>Template:Cite web</ref>
A new King Kobra emerged in 2010 with Carmine Appice on drums, Paul Shortino taking over vocal duties, Mick Sweda on guitar, David Henzerling (a.k.a. David Michael-Philips) on guitar, and Johnny Rod on bass. This lineup released the self-titled album King Kobra in 2011 on Frontiers Records and another album in 2013, titled King Kobra II.<ref name=metal>Template:Cite web</ref>
The band went on hiatus following the release of their 2013 album, largely due to the other commitments of the individual band members, They played live gigs again in 2016 without Mick Sweda.
On July 18, 2023, the band announced their new album, We Are Warriors, will be released on August 11. The title track was also released as a single. The line up features new guitarists Carlos Cavazo and Rowan Robertson, formerly of Quiet Riot and Dio respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Original King Kobra vocalist Marcie Free died on October 23, 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Band members
Current members
- Carmine Appice – drums, backing vocals (1983–1989, 2000–2001, 2010–present)
- Johnny Rod – bass, backing vocals (1983–1986, 2010–present)
- Paul Shortino – lead vocals, guitar (2010–present)
- Carlos Cavazo – guitar (2021–present)
- Rowan Robertson – guitar (2021–present)
Former members
- David Michael-Phillips – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizers (1983–1989, 2010–2021)
- Marcie Free – lead vocals (1983–1986, died 2025)
- Mike Wolf – guitar (1983)
- Mick Sweda – guitar, backing vocals, synthesizers (1983–1987, 2000–2001, 2010–2016)
- Lonnie Vencent – bass (1986–1987)
- Larry Hart – bass (1987–1989)
- Jeff Northrup – guitar, backing vocals (1987–1989)
- Johnny Edwards – lead vocals (1987–1989)
- Marq Torien – lead vocals (1987)
- Kelly Keeling – bass, lead vocals, guitars, keyboards (2000–2001)
- Steve Fister – guitar (2000–2001)
Timeline
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width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Marcie Free from:start till:01/11/1986 color:Vocals bar:Marq Torien from:01/11/1986 till:01/07/1987 color:Vocals bar:Johnny Edwards from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1989 color:Vocals bar:Kelly Keeling from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:vocals bar:Kelly Keeling from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:bass width:7 bar:Kelly Keeling from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:guitar width:5 bar:Kelly Keeling from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:keys width:3 bar:Paul Shortino from:01/07/2010 till:end color:Vocals bar:Paul Shortino from:01/07/2010 till:end color:Guitar width:3 bar:David Michael-Philips from:start till:01/07/1989 color:Guitar bar:David Michael-Philips from:start till:01/07/1989 color:Back width:3 bar:David Michael-Philips from:start till:01/07/1989 color:Keys width:7 bar:David Michael-Philips from:01/07/2010 till:18/07/2021 color:Guitar bar:David Michael-Philips from:01/07/2010 till:18/07/2021 color:back width:3 bar:David Michael-Philips from:01/07/2010 till:18/07/2021 color:Keys width:7 bar:Mike Wolf from:start till:01/07/1983 color:Guitar bar:Mick Sweda from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1987 color:Guitar bar:Mick Sweda from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1987 color:back width:3 bar:Mick Sweda from:01/07/1983 till:01/07/1987 color:Keys width:7 bar:Mick Sweda from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:Guitar bar:Mick Sweda from:01/07/2010 till:01/07/2016 color:Guitar bar:Jeff Northrup from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1989 color:Guitar bar:Jeff Northrup from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1989 color:back width:3 bar:Steve Fister from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:Guitar bar:Carlos Cavazo from:18/07/2021 till:end color:Guitar bar:Rowan Robertson from:18/07/2021 till:end color:Guitar bar:Johnny Rod from:start till:01/07/1986 color:Bass bar:Johnny Rod from:start till:01/07/1986 color:back width:3 bar:Johnny Rod from:01/07/2010 till:end color:Bass bar:Johnny Rod from:01/07/2010 till:end color:back width:3 bar:Lonnie Vencent from:01/07/1986 till:01/07/1987 color:Bass bar:Larry Hart from:01/07/1987 till:01/07/1989 color:Bass bar:Carmine Appice from:start till:01/07/1989 color:Drums bar:Carmine Appice from:start till:01/07/1989 color:back width:3 bar:Carmine Appice from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:Drums bar:Carmine Appice from:01/07/2000 till:01/07/2001 color:back width:3 bar:Carmine Appice from:01/07/2010 till:end color:Drums bar:Carmine Appice from:01/07/2010 till:end color:back width:3
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
- Ready to Strike (1985)
- Thrill of a Lifetime (1986)
- King Kobra III (1988)
- King Kobra (2011)
- King Kobra II (2013)
- We Are Warriors (2023)
Compilation albums
- The Lost Years (1999)
- Hollywood Trash (2001)
- Number One (2005 - Re-release of The Lost Years)
Soundtrack appearances
- "Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)" was included in the soundtrack album from the 1986 movie Iron Eagle.
- Song credits: Jake Hooker-Duane Hitchings - 1986 - Capitol Records.
- "Hunger", covered by King Kobra but written by Kick Axe (listed as "Spectre General"), was featured in The Transformers: The Movie, and included on the soundtrack album.
- "Mean Street Machine" & "Redline", were featured in RoadKill (video game) on radio station 69.3 QQQQ
Notes
- Rod left the band and joined W.A.S.P. in 1986.<ref name="LarkinHM"/>
- Torien, Sweda, and Vincent left to play together in the band BulletBoys.
- Free went on to form the bands known as Signal (EMI Records), and Unruly Child (Atlantic/Interscope Records). After coming to terms with her gender dysphoria in 1993 she was known as Marcie Free.