Quickfire: Former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears on canine custody and crashing his car

Quickfire: Former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears on canine custody, crashing his car and special songs

Former Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears

Where is home? A beautiful 1936 house in Los Angeles and an apartment in New Orleans, but I’m a bit of a wanderer so home is wherever my suitcase is.

Guilty pleasure? Binge-watching Hoarders, a US TV programme about people obsessed with amassing stuff. But I don’t really feel guilty about things that I’m into.

Career plan B? Horror novelist – I’ve written fiction all my life.

Who would play you in a movie of your life? Either Casey Affleck, who looks like me, or somebody left-field such as Juliette Lewis – she knows how to rock and roll.

Biggest bugbear? Garlic breath.

As a child you wanted to be… A hairdresser, then an actor – no surprise that my parents were raising a gay son.

Hangover cure? Hair of the dog – Smirnoff & tonic 

Secret to a happy relationship? If I knew I’d be in one! Staying in one place probably helps.

Your best quality? I’m warm and nonjudgmental.

And your worst? I can become totally self-absorbed when I’m working, sometimes to the detriment of others.

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done? Write a song, ‘Might Tell You Tonight’, for my former partner Chris when we started dating. It is on the Scissor Sisters album Ta-Dah.

Dream dinner-party guests? My current favourite writers, including Jeff VanderMeer, Jennifer Egan, Patrick deWitt, Josh Malerman and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore.

Cat or dog? Chris and I share custody of a wonderful 12-year-old border terrier, Toby.

Starstruck moment? Sitting in the front row watching Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly! on Broadway.

Big break? The Scissor Sisters performing at Glastonbury in 2004.

Career highlight? This year has fulfilled a multitude of dreams. I starred on Broadway in Kinky Boots, published a memoir, put out my debut solo album, toured on my own and got to be in a movie.

Last meal on earth? My mom’s chicken and dumplings.

Most embarrassing moment? Crashing my car into a wall while I was checking out a hot guy in Los Angeles two years ago.

Favourite tipple? A negroski – a negroni with vodka instead of gin.

Top of your bucket list? To visit Iceland.

One thing that would make your life better? A boyfriend.

Philosophy? Don’t take life or yourself too seriously.

Biggest lesson you’ve learnt about money? I used to be much more materialistic but I’ve learnt that buying things can be a burden.

Where would you time-travel to? Southern California in the late-60s to mid-70s, an incredible time for music with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks.

First record you bought? ‘Let’s Dance’ by David Bowie.

Best present you ever received? An ability to write lyrics, passed down in the DNA from my maternal grandmother.

Biggest fear? Eggs hatching under my skin – I dream about molluscs growing in my arms.

Celebrity crush? Chris Pratt, although I’m generally not attracted to celebrities.

Happiness is… Living in the moment. 

  • Jake’s debut solo album, Jake Shears, is out now

 

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