Scissor sisters by Tony Moxham: Taking off where the B-52'S Landed

Interview, May, 2002 by Tony Moxham

On a recent Saturday in Manhattan, downtown disco revivalists the Scissor Sisters performed at the notorious East Village gay bar The Cock. "It was a regular night there," says front man Jake Shears, "but we were three freaks onstage playing crazy disco songs. It felt like an instant party."

For the last few months, the band--comprised of Shears, Babydaddy and Ana Matronic--have cut their teeth on club stages. Now they've been signed to A Touch of Class Records.

"I'm an attention fiend," confesses Shears. "I was go-go dancing for two years and that was my outlet. Scissor Sisters is the next step." And while the band is heavily visual and performance focused, their music belies a more serious intent: to pump out uber-gay party music on par with the B-52's, Sylvester and even Wham! Explains Shears, "I'd never listened to Wham! before, and when I did I was blown away by how homo they were. Just listen to Bad Boys.' We'd like to stay in that vein of making gay music that reaches a bigger audience." Case in point: The band's first single, "Electrobix," which hits stores in mid-May, has infectious beats to keep feet moving and lyrics that remind image-obsessed gay men, "You better pump your body if you wanna be a hottie."

Given their funnalicious agenda, making good on their dream of playing gay mecca Fire Island this summer should be a cinch.

Tony Moxham is Interview's Art Director. From left: Babydaddy, Ana Matronic and Jake Shears wear DIOR HOMME BY HEDI SLIMANE. Stockings by EMILIO CAVALLINI at Showroom Seven. Fragrance: HIGHER DIOR. Styling: J. ERRICO. Hair and makeup: ERIC POLITO for Makeup Forever/i Group. Retouching: JIRASAK UDOMSAPAYA. Location: Courtesy of THE BATHHOUSE. Special thanks: PHOTOCARE. Fashion details page 127. Photographer: ADAM WEISS.