# Jake Shears
**Jake Shears** (born Jason Sellards, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the co-lead vocalist and frontman of the pop band [Scissor Sisters](https://www.edgepedia.org/scissor-sisters) and, since 2017, as a solo artist whose work spans dance-pop, glam rock, and musical theater.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) As Scissor Sisters' charismatic, proudly gay frontman, he helped craft a combination of 1970s-style glitter rock, house music, and electroclash that made the band's self-titled 2004 debut the best-selling album of the year in the United Kingdom.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) His parallel career in theater includes a starring Broadway run in *Kinky Boots*, writing the lyrics for the musical *Tammy Faye* to music composed by [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john), and playing the Emcee in the West End revival of *Cabaret*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears) • [18](https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/tammy-faye/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Jason Sellards, 1978, Mesa, Arizona; adopted the stage name Jake Shears in 2001[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) |
| Band breakthrough | Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut (February 2004) became the UK's best-selling album of 2004 and is nine-times platinum in the UK[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) • [4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/scissor-sisters-night-works-fire-with-fire-cult-classic-a9587251.html) |
| Band catalog | Four albums: *Scissor Sisters* (2004), *Ta-Dah* (2006), *Night Work* (2010), *Magic Hour* (2012), followed by an indefinite hiatus[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) |
| Solo albums | *Jake Shears* (2018, UK Albums Chart number 20) and *Last Man Dancing* (June 2023, on Mute)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [5](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/scissor-sisters-to-re-invigorate-legacy-of-band-with-sale-of-back-catalogue-of-music__37886/) |
| Theater | Broadway debut as Charlie Price in *Kinky Boots* (2018); lyricist for *Tammy Faye* (West End 2022, Broadway 2024); Emcee in *Cabaret* until March 2024; Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Show* on Broadway (2026)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears) • [6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jake-Shears/) |
| Memoir | *Boys Keep Swinging* (2018)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) |
| Reunion | Reunited Scissor Sisters in 2025 with Babydaddy and Del Marquis for a sold-out UK arena tour, a Glastonbury set, and a co-headline US tour with Kesha[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) |
## Early life
Shears was born Jason Sellards in [Mesa, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/mesa-arizona), in 1978 and grew up in the Phoenix suburbs, also spending time on San Juan Island, Washington, north of Seattle.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) As a child he saw the fantasy film *Labyrinth* and became fascinated with [David Bowie](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-bowie); he also discovered *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, and as a teenager took guitar lessons with the Seattle punk rocker Paul Solger, who introduced him to the Ramones and Iggy and the Stooges.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) He came out as gay to his parents at age 15, later describing coming out in the early 1990s as the only gay kid in a large public high school as intense.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [7](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/04/jake-shears-on-snoring-partying-raising-fawns-toilet-training-and-zsa-zsa-gabor)
Following his graduation from high school, he relocated to New York City and pursued fiction-writing studies at [Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/eugene-lang-college-of-liberal-arts) at [The New School](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-new-school), while also dancing go-go at a gay bar and writing about music for *Paper* magazine.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735)
## Scissor Sisters
In 2001, inspired by the burgeoning electroclash scene, he adopted the stage name Jake Shears and paired with his longtime friend, keyboardist Scott Hoffman ([Babydaddy](https://www.edgepedia.org/babydaddy)), to form the arty pop outfit Scissor Sisters, a name taken from a cheeky term for lesbian sex.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) The project had earlier performed in New York dive bars and gay clubs under the name Dead Lesbian and the Fibrillating Scissor Sisters, singing over pre-recorded backing tracks.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/03/scissor-sisters-jake-shears-del-marquis-babydaddy) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) A full lineup soon followed, with singer Ana Lynch ([Ana Matronic](https://www.edgepedia.org/ana-matronic)), guitarist Derek Gruen (Del Marquis), and drummer Patrick Seacor (Paddy Boom).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) A radical disco cover of [Pink Floyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/pink-floyd)'s "Comfortably Numb", released in 2002, broke the band out of the New York club scene and earned them a major label deal, shifting their focus toward Europe and especially the UK.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/03/scissor-sisters-jake-shears-del-marquis-babydaddy)
**UK success.** Released in February 2004, the band's eponymous debut was a chart-topping blockbuster that spawned five singles: "Laura", "Take Your Mama", "Mary", "Filthy/Gorgeous", and the disco cover of "Comfortably Numb".[9](https://www.scissorsisters.com/biography/) It became the best-selling album of 2004 in the UK and has since been certified nine-times platinum there, placing it among the UK's 40 best-selling albums ever.[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) • [4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/scissor-sisters-night-works-fire-with-fire-cult-classic-a9587251.html) WME, his booking agency, reports that the debut was later named the UK's twelfth biggest-selling debut LP of all time.[10](https://music.wmeagency.com/Music/jakeshears) In January 2004 the band made their UK live debut at a Soho club night; by June they were playing Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage.[9](https://www.scissorsisters.com/biography/) That same year Shears collaborated with [Kylie Minogue](https://www.edgepedia.org/kylie-minogue) on "I Believe in You", a disco single that reached number 2 in the UK and earned a Grammy nomination.[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/)
Three more albums followed: *Ta-Dah* (2006), which yielded the chart-topping "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'", co-written with the band's hero Elton John; *Night Work* (2010); and *Magic Hour* (2012).[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/scissor-sisters-night-works-fire-with-fire-cult-classic-a9587251.html) • [2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) For *Night Work*, Shears insisted on a homoerotic 1980 [Robert Mapplethorpe](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-mapplethorpe) photograph of the dancer Peter Reed as the cover art despite pushback from the label and from inside the band; the album is now considered a modern queer classic.[4](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/scissor-sisters-night-works-fire-with-fire-cult-classic-a9587251.html) The group entered an indefinite hiatus in 2012 after *Magic Hour*.[11](https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/i-hope-i-can-remember-all-the-words-scissor-sisters-man-jake-shears-on-bringing-21st-anniversary-tour-to-ireland-and-life-after-ana-matronic-FCHEL77YBNDJJNJWQPVB4KOVGU/)
## Solo career
Shears has said he never expected to make a solo record, but a 2015 break-up with his longtime partner, the director Chris Moukarbel, and a move to New Orleans changed his direction.[12](https://www.knba.org/music/2018-08-10/jake-shears-strikes-out-on-his-own) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) He launched his solo career in October 2017 with the glam-pop single "Creep City", and his self-titled debut album followed in August 2018, recorded with collaborators including the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sturgill Simpson's horn section, and members of [My Morning Jacket](https://www.edgepedia.org/my-morning-jacket).[3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) The album reached number 20 on the [UK Albums Chart](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-albums-chart) and number 4 on the UK Independent Albums chart, and critics noted its New Orleans roots influence alongside the synth-pop sound of Scissor Sisters.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [13](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/slaves-album-review-acts-of-fear-and-love-jake-shears-the-proclaimers-tomberlin-a8482791.html) The same year he published his memoir, *Boys Keep Swinging*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735)
In early 2020 he appeared on ITV's *The Masked Singer* as "the Unicorn" and released the single "Meltdown".[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) During the pandemic he relocated to London.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) His second album, *Last Man Dancing*, appeared in June 2023 on the label Mute; a celebration of dance music from disco to rave, it featured contributions from Kylie Minogue, Amber Martin, Big Freedia, Iggy Pop, and [Jane Fonda](https://www.edgepedia.org/jane-fonda).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) In 2024 he launched the podcast *Queer The Music*, exploring the artists and songs that have shaped queer identity and dancefloor culture, and he hosts a weekly DJ show, *Last Man Dancing Radio*, on Apple Music Hits with his producer DJ Sammy Jo.[3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears) • [14](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jake-shears/1387909212)
## Theater work
Shears's theater career began in 2011, when he co-wrote the music with John Garden for a stage musical adaptation of [Armistead Maupin](https://www.edgepedia.org/armistead-maupin)'s *Tales of the City*; he later appeared in a staging of Martin Sherman's play *Bent*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) He made his Broadway debut starring as Charlie Price in *Kinky Boots*, a role he performed for roughly a hundred shows.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [15](https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/09/13/jake-shears-on-his-book-tour-album-and-gay-life-in-the-big-easy/) He wrote the lyrics for *Tammy Faye*, a musical about the evangelist Tammy Faye Messner, with music by Elton John and a book by playwright James Graham; it premiered in London's West End in October 2022, won 2023 Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, and transferred to Broadway in 2024.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears) Months after *Last Man Dancing*, he debuted in the West End revival of *Cabaret*, starring as the Emcee until March 2024.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) BroadwayWorld lists him as Frank-N-Furter [Replacement] in *The Rocky Horror Show* on Broadway in 2026.[6](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jake-Shears/)
## Scissor Sisters reunion
In 2025, after more than a decade away, Shears reunited with Babydaddy and Del Marquis for a sold-out UK arena tour marking the 20th anniversary of the debut album, a Saturday night Glastonbury set, and a co-headline US tour with Kesha.[2](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/) Vocalist Ana Matronic did not join the reunion, citing other projects.[16](https://www.nme.com/news/music/scissor-sisters-announce-2025-anniversary-tour-of-their-self-titled-debut-album-3808174) Shears has said the impetus for the reunion was a lockdown YouTube screening of the band's *Live at The O2* film, and Babydaddy framed the return as a chance to revisit the moment when a queer band pushed into the mainstream.[9](https://www.scissorsisters.com/biography/) A live album recorded at London's O2 Arena on 23 May 2025, with guest appearances from Self Esteem and Ian McKellen, documents the anniversary show.[9](https://www.scissorsisters.com/biography/) A full international festival run continues into 2026, including a headline slot at Mighty Hoopla.[3](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears)
## Collaborations and recognition
Beyond his own records, Shears has worked widely across dance and pop: he appeared on Amadou & Mariam's *Folila* and Queens of the Stone Age's *...Like Clockwork*, duetted with Cher on "Take It Like a Man" from her 2013 album *Closer to the Truth*, and joined Kylie Minogue and Nile Rodgers on Nervo's "The Other Boys" from 2015's *Collateral*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735) • [17](https://time.com/4090561/nervo-kylie-minogue-jake-shears-and-nile-rodgers-the-other-boys-video/) WME summarizes his career as spanning multi-million global album sales, Brits, Ivor Novellos, Grammy award nominations, and arena tours.[10](https://music.wmeagency.com/Music/jakeshears)
## References
1. [Jake Shears – Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic (Heather Phares)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000688735)
2. [Scissor Sisters – Biography, Official Site](https://www.scissorsisters.com/not-a-phase/)
3. [Jake Shears – Fascination Management](https://www.fascinationmanagement.com/jake-shears)
4. [How Scissor Sisters' Night Work became a cult classic, The Independent (Nick Levine, 2020)](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/scissor-sisters-night-works-fire-with-fire-cult-classic-a9587251.html)
5. [Scissor Sisters to "re-invigorate" legacy of band with sale of back catalogue, Official Charts](https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/scissor-sisters-to-re-invigorate-legacy-of-band-with-sale-of-back-catalogue-of-music__37886/)
6. [Jake Shears – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jake-Shears/)
7. [Jake Shears: 'Coming out at 15 was intense', The Guardian (2020)](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/04/jake-shears-on-snoring-partying-raising-fawns-toilet-training-and-zsa-zsa-gabor)
8. ['We were strapped to this babbling circus': Scissor Sisters on their reunion, The Guardian (2025)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/03/scissor-sisters-jake-shears-del-marquis-babydaddy)
9. [Scissor Sisters – Biography, Official Site](https://www.scissorsisters.com/biography/)
10. [Jake Shears – WME](https://music.wmeagency.com/Music/jakeshears)
11. [Scissor Sisters man Jake Shears on bringing 21st anniversary tour to Ireland, The Irish News](https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/i-hope-i-can-remember-all-the-words-scissor-sisters-man-jake-shears-on-bringing-21st-anniversary-tour-to-ireland-and-life-after-ana-matronic-FCHEL77YBNDJJNJWQPVB4KOVGU/)
12. [Jake Shears Strikes Out On His Own, KNBA (2018)](https://www.knba.org/music/2018-08-10/jake-shears-strikes-out-on-his-own)
13. [Album reviews: Slaves, Jake Shears, Tomberlin, The Proclaimers and The Magpie Salute, The Independent (2018)](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/slaves-album-review-acts-of-fear-and-love-jake-shears-the-proclaimers-tomberlin-a8482791.html)
14. [Jake Shears – Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jake-shears/1387909212)
15. [Jake Shears on his book, tour, album and gay life in the Big Easy, Washington Blade (2018)](https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/09/13/jake-shears-on-his-book-tour-album-and-gay-life-in-the-big-easy/)
16. [Scissor Sisters announce 2025 UK anniversary tour of their self-titled debut album, NME](https://www.nme.com/news/music/scissor-sisters-announce-2025-anniversary-tour-of-their-self-titled-debut-album-3808174)
17. [Watch NERVO, Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers in 'The Other Boys' Video, TIME (2015)](https://time.com/4090561/nervo-kylie-minogue-jake-shears-and-nile-rodgers-the-other-boys-video/)
18. [Tammy Faye, Almeida Theatre](https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/tammy-faye/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present › Dance-pop and electropop singers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license