Scissor Sisters

Scissor Sisters (formed 2001)

Scissor Sisters are a New York band, made up of Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Babydaddy, Del Marquis and Randy Real (who replaced Paddy Boom).

Scissor Sisters: Formation

In 2000, Jake Shears met Babydaddy in Kentucky whilst visiting a friend. They started playing music together, though not successfully. After moving to New York, however they met Ana Matronic at a cabaret. After forming a band and meeting Del Marquis, they started playing gigs. Shears was working as a stripper at the time, as an East Village bar called I.C. Guys.

The band eventually signed to the independent label A Touch of Class and recorded a single 'Electrobix'. The B-side was a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'. In September 2003, Scissor Sisters were credited as remixers of Blondie's single 'Good Boys'.

After their Pink Floyd cover became popular with London's underground club scene, Scissor Sisters signed to the British label, Polydor.

Scissor Sisters: Music Career

Scissor Sister's debut single, 'Laura', was given a limited release in 2003, noticed by few members of the press, other than New Musical Express and the Channel 4 entertainment programmes, V Graham Norton and Popworld. Later that year. Scissor Sisters' track 'It Can't Come Quickly Enough' was included on the soundtrack to Party Monster.

The band's cover of 'Comfortably Numb' was re-released, reaching number 10 in the UK. Their next single was 'Take Your Mama', which reached number 17 in the UK singles chart. As a result of their success, their debut single 'Laura' was re-released, with greater success than its initial release and was followed by 'Mary' and 'Filthy / Gorgeous'.

The resultant album, Scissor Sisters, was a UK number one album, beating Keane's Hopes and Fears to become the highest selling album in the UK for 2004. In terms of sales, Scissor Sisters sit alongside the likes of Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Dido and Coldplay: notable for their alternative edge in comparison to these contemporaries. The language used on the album resulted in it being banned for Wal-Mart stores in America.

The second album from Wal-Mart was entitled Ta-Dah and it was released in 2006. They previewed a number of sings from the album - including 'Hybrid Man' and 'Paul McCartney' at the Live 8 concert. The track 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin' features Elton John on piano and on co-writing duties. The track was number one in the UK for four weeks.

In 2006, Scissor Sisters also opened for Depeche Mode on their 'Touring the Angel' tour. After their own world tour in 2007, Scissor Sisters started working on their next album, Night Work, They previewed the album in New York, using assumed names such as 'Queef Latina' and 'Debbie's Hairy'. However, few of the tracks previewed here actually made it on to the album. The band also recorded a cover of Roxy Music's 'Do the Strand' for the charity compilation War Child Presents Heroes. Night Work was eventually released in 2010 and 'Fire with Fire' was the lead single. That year, when Scissor Sisters performed at Glastonbury Festival, Kylie Minogue joined them onstage for a live performance. Jake Shears had worked as a producer on Kylie's 2010 album Aphrodite.

Scissor Sisters have been known to count ABBA, Duran Duran and Blondie amongst their biggest influences. Equally, artists such as Lady Gaga, U2, Madonna and Thom Yorke of Radiohead have stated that they are fans of Scissor Sisters.