Backstage Pass

The Scissor Sisters, who are still based in Manhattan, say they feel more at home in England these days.

"They have really adopted us as their own," said singer Jake Shears, calling from a tour stop in Chicago. "It's always fun to play New York, and we have a lot of friends in the crowd, but London just feels like more of a homecoming show for us, now. There's more love there."

"Love" may be an understatement. The Scissor Sisters' eponymous debut album, with its flamboyant '70s pop strutter "Take Your Mama" and the discofied cover of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," came from nowhere to become Britain's biggest-selling album in 2004. Their latest album, "Ta-Dah" (Universal Motown), and its first single, "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'," have both already hit No. 1 there, beating out American chart-toppers Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé.

"I have no idea why it's so different," Shears said. "But I'm not losing any sleep over it. We're perfectly happy. Even without the success in England, we're really proud of what we've done. It's more than I've ever expected. If you told me five years ago that we would have an album in the Top 20, I would've said you were crazy."

Full story

PHOTO by Joseph Gultice