Jake Shears

Jake Shears – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Explore the life, career, and artistic journey of Jake Shears, the American musician, singer, and songwriter born October 3, 1978. From Scissor Sisters to solo work and Broadway, discover his creative evolution.

Introduction

Jake Shears (born Jason F. Sellards on October 3, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and performer best known as the co-lead vocalist of the band Scissor Sisters. Over the 2000s, Scissor Sisters became a glam-pop phenomenon, and in recent years Shears has developed a solo career, ventured into musical theatre, and continued to push boundaries with his bold, expressive style. His work embodies theatricality, queer identity, and a contagious love for pop, disco, and experimentation.

Early Life and Family

Jake Shears was born in Mesa, Arizona. San Juan Island, Washington, and in the Seattle area.

In high school, Shears attended Friday Harbor High School, and later transferred to the Northwest School in Seattle to complete his secondary education. Occidental College in Los Angeles, studying liberal arts.

Shears has spoken about feeling marginalized in his youth—experiencing bullying and isolation as he came to terms with his identity—and about how music and performance became outlets for expression and resilience.

At age 19, he travelled to Lexington, Kentucky to visit a classmate, where he met Scott Hoffman (aka Babydaddy). That encounter would prove pivotal, as the two later moved to New York and co-founded Scissor Sisters.

Career and Achievements

Formation and Rise of Scissor Sisters

In the early 2000s, Shears and Babydaddy formed Scissor Sisters in New York City, initially as a kind of performance-art project within the city’s electroclash and gay nightlife scenes.

Their debut self-titled album (released in 2004) was a major success — especially in the UK and Ireland — and their singles like “Take Your Mama,” “Filthy/Gorgeous,” “Let’s Have a Kiki,” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” became pop anthems.

Scissor Sisters enjoyed a fruitful run through the 2000s, releasing multiple albums and touring internationally, before taking a hiatus around 2012.

Solo Career & Musical Theatre

After the hiatus, Shears gradually moved into solo work. In October 2017, he released his first solo single, “Creep City”. Jake Shears, came out in August 2018.

In addition to music, Shears made his Broadway debut in the musical Kinky Boots in 2018, performing the lead role of Charlie Price. Tammy Faye (about evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker), which premiered in London’s West End in 2022 and has been moving toward Broadway.

In June 2023, Shears released his second solo album, Last Man Dancing, which leans even more fully into dance, disco, and electronic pop. Kylie Minogue, Amber Martin, Iggy Pop, and Jane Fonda.

In 2023–2024, Shears also made his West End theatre debut as the Emcee in a revival of Cabaret.

Collaborations & Cross-Genre Work

Throughout his career, Shears has collaborated with many artists across genres. Examples include:

• Writing “I Believe in You” for Kylie Minogue, co-writing with Babydaddy.

• Collaborations with electronic musicians like Tiga (on songs such as “Hot in Herre,” “You Gonna Want Me”) and others.

• A guest appearance on Queens of the Stone Age album …Like Clockwork, providing backing vocals on “Keep Your Eyes Peeled.”

• Duet with Cher on “Take It Like a Man” for her 2013 album Closer to the Truth.

These collaborations underscore his versatility, ability to cross musical borders, and to bring theatrical flair into pop and rock contexts.

Personality, Identity & Influence

Jake Shears is openly gay and has been vocal about the importance of queer visibility in art and media. His style and performances often blend gender expression, theatricality, and subversive humor.

He describes himself as someone drawn to spectacle, performance, and emotional honesty. His music and stage presence combine flamboyant visuals with heartfelt, often introspective, lyrics.

As a public figure, Shears occupies a space between pop star, queer icon, and musical theatre artist—a hybrid identity that allows him to reach multiple audiences. His work has influenced both the LGBTQ+ community and mainstream pop music by showing that bold, unapologetic queerness can have broad appeal.

Notable Quotes

Here are some quotes attributed to Jake Shears:

“I don’t believe I have one sexuality. I believe my desire is fluid—I’m who I need to be when I need to be that person.”

“There’s no issue with you making a solo record — as long as it’s fantastic.”
(Regarding his hesitation and eventual decision to make a solo album)

“Dance music’s always given me a lot.”
(On his connection to dance, disco, and the dance floor)

“I’m going to be the last man dancing. I’ll carry on even when the party’s over.”
(From his song “Last Man Dancing,” reflecting persistence and longevity)

These lines reflect his themes of self-expression, resistance, and celebration.

Lessons & Legacy

1. Be bold and multiply your roles
   Shears shows that an artist can be a pop singer, theatre actor, songwriter, and collaborator all at once. He resists being pigeonholed.

2. Let identity inform, not limit your art
   By integrating his queer identity into his music and performance (not hiding it), Shears has made work that’s both personal and expansive.

3. Evolve with your medium
   Transitioning from band frontman to solo artist to theatre performer, Shears exemplifies adaptability—he doesn’t stay static.

4. Bridge spectacle and vulnerability
   His flamboyant stage persona is balanced by emotional lyricism and sincere storytelling.

5. Stay rooted in community while reaching broad audiences
   He has maintained strong roots in queer and performance communities while creating music that resonates with wider publics.

His legacy is already established in the influence he’s had on glam pop, queer performance, and the blending of musical genres. Over time, he’s likely to be remembered not just for hits or flamboyance, but for demonstrating that music and theatre can carry truth, identity, and joy together.

Conclusion

Jake Shears is a singular voice in contemporary music and performance. From rising through New York’s underground gay nightlife to leading the chart-topping Scissor Sisters, to reimagining himself as a solo artist and theatre force, his artistic path is one of reinvention, courage, and unapologetic selfhood. His songs pulse with energy; his performances command presence; his life affirms that authenticity and spectacle can dance side by side.