Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters has hit back at allegations that the band are a gimmick, camp act and that the connotations of novelty are an unfair statement to make about the group.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, they talk about their recent stint in the UK, including Ana Matronic’s appearance as a guest coach on The Voice.

‘Our music is universal,’ says Shears. ‘And we’ve always transcended the gay-band thing’

‘I got irked recently when a TV presenter said our new single was camp. I met the author Gore Vidal earlier this year. At one point, he turned to me and said: “Camp is just another word for somebody with no talent.”’

‘That’s so true. It’s a word with novelty connotations. I resent it, as I’m not a camp person. I’m straightforward. On stage, we adopt a showy personality, but to call us camp is dismissive.’

Celebrating ten years on the scene with their fourth studio album, Magic Hour being released at the end of the month, camp or not, the Scissor Sisters are an unstoppable force of infectious (and definitely not camp) Manhattan pop music.

They will be promoting Magic Hour with a number of tour dates:

Dublin Olympia - October 1st

Belfast Waterfront - 2nd

Portsmouth Guildhall - 15th

O2 Academy Leeds - 16th

Glasgow Barrowlands - 19th

O2 Apollo Manchester - 20th

Bristol Colston Hall - 21st

London Roundhouse - 23rd

The band’s new single, Only The Horses is out now.