Scissor Sisters Reveal Their First Bands And Celebrity Mates

added 28 July 2004 at 14.10

A year ago Jake Shears could wander around the UK almost unnoticed. However, since the Scissor Sisters album found its way into almost every home in Britain, Shears is now a bona fide celebrity. Ahead of their forthcoming huge UK tour, the frontman spills the beans on his first band, celebrity mates and his favourite album of all time.

Every musician has musical skeletons in their closet. But it’s hard to imagine that someone with the apparent style and charisma as Shears was ever responsible for anything that embarrassingly awful…

“In high school in Seattle I had a band called My Favorite Band. I wrote all the songs and they were really bad, but they were kinda sweet,” Shears tells VH1. “I made a lot of electronic music in high school. After I was in college for a while, I came to the conclusion that I hated making electronic music. I'm more interested in the actual song rather than the nitty gritty numbers in it.”

It’s also physically impossible to be as well known as Shears and cohorts are without having a few celebrity friends to hang out with and discuss important things like how much money you made this hour and what you’ll be wearing to pick up your next award. Unsurprisingly, the Scissor Sisters have a rather large fan in the form of kindred spirit Elton John.

“We played a couple of shows with him. It blew my mind. [He's been] extremely supportive of us,” he gushes. “He's just extremely charming, warm, and very friendly. The first time I met him, when he came to see us the first time, he made me feel great. I think he's one of the best performers alive today that we've got. Tonight I get to meet Peter Gabriel, which I'm really excited about.”

It’s said that you can tell a lot about someone from their favourite album. And so to Shears: image conscious, straddling both 70s and 80s pop, not afraid to use his sexuality as part of his onstage persona. It’s got to be Bowie.

“‘Let's Dance’ by David Bowie,” he concludes. “The best song off that record is ‘Without You.’ It's right after ‘China Girl’, I think. It's just one of those sailing off into the sunset tunes. It's just gorgeous. It's probably my favourite album of all time because it was the first record that totally opened my eyes up and it will always be very dear to my heart.”

The Scissor Sisters will release ‘Mary’ on October 11 as the fourth single to be taken from their self-titled debut album.

As previously reported on Xfm Online, They band play two shows next month at the Brighton Dome on August 11 and 12. The second night will be filmed for a DVD release later in the year and fans have been specifically requested to dress up for the occasion.

The Scissor Sisters embark on their first major UK tour in October. Tickets are on sale from the Xfm Xchange on 0871 222 1049 or online at Xfm Live Gig Guide by clicking here.

  • Brighton Dome (August 11,12)
  • V2004 Staffordhire (21)
  • V2004 Chelmsford (22)
  • Creamfields 2004 (28)
  • Bournemouth International Centre (October 15)
  • London Royal Albert Hall (17)
  • Reading Rivermead (19)
  • Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre (20)
  • Wolverhampton Civic Centre (21)
  • Manchester Carling Apollo (23)
  • Edinburgh Corn Exchange (24)
  • Glasgow Barrowlands (25)
  • Doncaster Dome (27)
  • Blackpool Empress Ballroom (29)
  • London Brixton Academy (31 Halloween Show - fancy dress required)
  • London Brixton Academy (November 2)

 


Tagged as Scissor Sisters, archive

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