Jake Shears
The flamboyant, falsetto-voiced frontman who spearheaded Scissor Sisters' glitter-drenched revival of glam-pop, bringing queer joy to the top of the charts.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American singer·Birthday: October 3·Generation X
Biography
Jake Shears, born Jason Sellards, didn't just join a band—he helped create a phenomenon. Moving from Arizona to New York City, he found his creative soulmate in Babydaddy, and together they forged Scissor Sisters, a group that fused disco, glam rock, and Elton John-esque piano into a sound that was unabashedly fun and queer. As co-lead vocalist, Shears was the human lightning rod on stage, a whirlwind of sequins, sweat, and powerful vocals that drove hits like 'Take Your Mama' and 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin'' to international success. The band's ascent brought a shot of vibrant, inclusive energy to 2000s pop. After their hiatus, Shears didn't slow down, relocating to New Orleans and launching a solo career that allowed for deeper, sometimes darker, musical exploration. His foray into Broadway, taking over a lead role in 'Kinky Boots', proved his theatrical prowess was innate, not just a stage persona.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jake was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scissor Sisters' self-titled debut album (2004) became the best-selling album of the year in the UK.
- Co-wrote and performed 'I Don't Feel Like Dancin'', which became a global number-one hit in multiple countries.
- His debut solo album, 'Jake Shears' (2018), was met with strong critical acclaim for its personal songwriting.
- Made his Broadway debut in 2018, playing the lead role of Charlie Price in 'Kinky Boots'.
- Scissor Sisters won a Brit Award for Best International Breakthrough Act in 2005.
Did You Know?
He wrote his 2018 memoir, 'Boys Keep Swinging', which detailed his early life and rise to fame.
He was a student at the University of Northern Arizona before dropping out to move to New York.
He is openly gay and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights throughout his career.
He is a close friend and collaborator of the musician Kylie Minogue.
“I've always been drawn to music that makes you want to move, but has something a little bit broken underneath.”
