May 13

Jake Shears, über-gay Scissor Sisters vocalist

Jake Shears, openly gay male vocalist for the alternative glam rock band known as Scissor Sisters, was not the inspiration for the name of the group. “Shears” has nothing to do with the word “Scissor” in the title; they took their name from a sexual position between two women. Ana Matronic (born Ana Lynch) is the female lead singer, whose stage name is due to her "deep and abiding love of robots". She has a large tattoo on her right shoulder of bionic circuitry. Scissor Sisters was formed by American-born musicians in New York in 2001, but their greatest success has come in the U.K.

“I Don't Feel Like Dancin',” from their second studio album became a huge hit in 2006; Elton John is featured on piano and is credited as co-writer. The hit single “Filthy/Gorgeous” is from their 2004 debut album. Their third album, Night Work, was released last summer. The cover art image (shown below) is from legendary gay photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

On a 2001 trip to Disneyland, Jake Shears met Ana Matronic at a screening of Michael Jackson's Captain EO, and on a subsequent teacup ride they discussed the type of music they liked, and they discovered that they had a lot in common. The rest is pop music history.

Not shy about appearing nearly naked on stage or dancing around in outrageous skin-tight get-ups, Jake Shears and boyfriend of seven years, Chris Moukarbel, are engaged to be married. Ana’s father was a gay man who died of AIDS when she was 15 years old. Her immersion in gay pop culture is a way to remain close to his memory and to understand his nature. Ana married her long-term boyfriend Seth Kirby in New York in 2010.

Matthew Williams lip syncs and dances his way through a self-made video of “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” (on YouTube since 2006), which, in my humble opinion, is far more entertaining than the official video. Check it out, and pay attention to Elton John's piano playing.