‘Babydaddy is moving to London. Make of that what you will’ – Scissor Sisters tease new music after Attitude Awards win (EXCLUSIVE)
As the group receive the Icon Award, supported by Virgin Atlantic, at the 2025 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, Jake Shears reflects on their comeback tour and their position in the queer pantheon
By James Hodge
A blacked-out stage. A field at Worthy Park is filled to capacity. A notably queer crowd is pulsing with anticipation. Expectations are running high for the Scissor Sisters, now the recipients of an Icon Award, supported by Virgin Atlantic. As the LGBTQ+ darlings of the 2000s, their music was the soundtrack to many a coming out.
Then, the iconic honky-tonk synth opening bars of ‘Laura’ begin to play and the Scissor Sisters are back on the Glastonbury stage for the first time in 15 years.
With Babydaddy on the bass and Del Marquis with guitar in hand, the band’s return generates a warm feeling of nostalgia that envelops the audience. And when the charismatic force that is lead singer Jake Shears takes the mic, the Scissor Sisters are riding high once again.
A reunion without co-lead singer Ana Matronic may have seemed unimaginable, but backing singers Amber Martin and Bridget Barkan bring retro ballroom sass and a rejuvenated sense of punk fun.
As the set goes on, with the band pacing through ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancing’ and ‘Let’s Have a Kiki’, it’s apparent that this is about more than nostalgia. The Scissor Sisters have myriad hits and are every bit as talented performers as they are songwriters. Joined by contemporary queer royalty for their tour — Ian McKellen, Olly Alexander, Self Esteem, Alison Goldfrapp, Jessie Ware and more — this is the homecoming the band deserved.
Just as deserved is the band’s recognition at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar. Responding to the news, Jake Shears tells Attitude, “My main hope is that we can pass along creative inspiration to others. Queer folks must keep creating and making and dreaming.”
“There’s an entirely new dynamic between all of us” Jakes Shears on Scissor Sisters’ reunion
Speaking about their comeback post-tour, Shears says, “It feels different this time around. [Babydaddy, Del and I] are all a bit older and wiser — and of course, we have the new line-up. There’s an entirely new dynamic between all of us, and it feels really fresh.”
What has surprised Shears is just how beloved the non-singles have become. ‘I Can’t Decide’ blew up on TikTok despite never being released in the charts. Other long-forgotten numbers have become onstage staples. “My favourite songs to play have been some of the tracks off the first album: ‘Better Luck’ and ‘Lovers in the Backseat’ — songs we haven’t sung in a couple decades. Your songs are always in conversation with each other, and I really enjoyed the one these songs were having.”
In the current climate of LGBTQ+ intolerance, the Scissor Sisters’ renaissance feels all the more important. At their peak, the band represented unabashed queerness for many young people. Not only were they bold, brassy and outrageous in their image and stage antics, but songs like ‘Tits on the Radio’ offered unashamed sensuality. Without the Scissor Sisters, would we have hits such as ‘Rush’ by Troye Sivan, ‘Lipstick Lover’ by Janelle Monáe, ‘Coconuts’ by Kim Petras? Possibly not. The queer slut-pop movement arguably begins with the band.
The question on everyone’s lips is: will there be new music? Shears — who moved to London three years ago — delivers a tantalising teaser when asked the question: “Babydaddy is also moving to London. Make of that what you will…” Perhaps another kiki is on the horizon.
This is an excerpt from a feature appearing in the 2025 Attitude Awards issue. To see the full feature, order your copy of the Attitude Awards 2025 issue now or read it alongside 15 years of back issues on the free Attitude app.