Scissor Sisters

Scissor Sisters biography

Scissor Sisters are an American band, formed in 2001, the band "spawned by the scuzzy, gay nightlife scene of New York" Its members comprise Jake Shears and Ana Matronic as vocalists, Babydaddy as multi-instrumentalist, Del Marquis as lead guitar/bassist, and Randy Real as drummer (who replaced Paddy Boom). The band took their name from a sexual position between two women also known as tribadism.

Following the release of their Grammy-nominated and chart-topping disco version of "Comfortably Numb", Scissor Sisters came to prominence with the unveiling of their debut album Scissor Sisters (2004) which became an international success particularly in the UK (a country they call their "spiritual home") where it reached number 1, was the best-selling album of 2004, was later certified platinum by the BPI and accrued them 3 BRIT Awards in 2005. All 5 of its singles reached positions within the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart while "Filthy/Gorgeous" also scored the band their first number 1 on Billboards Hot Dance Club Songs, despite the album's mere success in their native US. The album continued its success in countries around Europe, in Australia and in Canada before the release of the band's second studio album Ta-Dah (2006) which proved to be another commercial and critical success and scored them their second consecutive UK number 1 album and produced their first UK number 1 single "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'". Displaying a shift towards a more club-oriented sound, their third studio album Night Work (2010) charted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart, number 1 on Billboards Top Independent Albums chart and in the top 10 of several international territories.

Scissor Sisters have performed around the world and have become well-recognized for their controversial and transgressive live performances. They have also collaborated with a number of other well-known pop musicians, including Elton John and Kylie Minogue; these particular collaborations have been received positively by both critics and other notable figures. In 2004, Bono, lead vocalist of rock band U2, described Scissor Sisters as "the best pop group in the world". They have also collaborated with Global Cool in 2007 on one of their green lifestyle campaigns.

History

2000-03: Early career

Originally named the Fibrillating Scissor Sisters, the band was founded in 2000 after friends Jake Shears and Scott "Babydaddy" Hoffman (who had met in 1999 in Lexington) both moved to New York City, enjoying its open and gay-friendly ethos. Consequently, they began producing music together: Babydaddy composing the songs and Shears writing the lyrics. The duo released a couple of singles to little success and began appearing at underground clubs on New York's Lower East Side, which at the time was in the grip of electroclash, a genre that subsequently influenced them. On a trip to Disneyland, the pair met Ana "Ana Matronic" Lynch at a screening of Michael Jackson's Captain EO. On a subsequent teacup ride, they discussed the type of music that they liked, discovering that they had a lot in common. Shears later remarked, "I really thought she was a freak but when I started singing "Just Another Part Of Me" she showed me the best moonwalk I've ever seen."

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