Jake Shears, lead singer of the Scissor Sisters, has taken on the role of Frank-N-Furter in the Broadway revival of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Show.” Shears, 48, who first encountered the show through its film adaptation, described how the production has long influenced his creative imagination. He made his Broadway debut in 2018 with “Kinky Boots” and currently splits his time between London and New Orleans.
In a recent interview, Shears shared a variety of his cultural interests, highlighting his affinity for horror and the supernatural. Among his recommendations is the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, which he praised as a destination for horror enthusiasts to discover both obscure and potentially groundbreaking films. Shears also cited several horror-themed video games he enjoys, including “Silent Hill f,” “CloverPit,” and the card game “Inscryption,” all of which he described as tense and immersive experiences.
Shears spoke about his personal style as well, naming Jade Hartley, a colorist at Bleach London in Dalston, as instrumental in developing his signature bleached hair look. In footwear, he favors Rick Owens’s DRKSHDWs, a casual yet versatile shoe he said pairs well from everyday errands to theater premieres.
A dedicated reader, Shears emphasized his love for literary horror, recommending authors Laird Barron, Nathan Ballingrud, and Josh Malerman. He pointed out Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House” as especially chilling, noting that its film adaptation, titled “Other Mommy,” is forthcoming.
Shears also highlighted memorable theater experiences, including Rupert Goold’s production of “American Psycho: The Musical” at the Almeida Theatre in London. He described Act II’s opening club scene, especially the song “This Is Not an Exit,” as striking enough to inspire him to learn the piano.
Among his documentary interests is “The Age of Disclosure,” which explores Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Shears expressed longstanding fascination with the supernatural and found the documentary’s subject matter particularly compelling.
He also praised the latest album from Queens of the Stone Age, calling it a unique work that balances eerie tones with humor and uplift.
Returning to his roots in horror musical culture, Shears recommended “Shock Treatment,” the follow-up film to “Rocky Horror,” highlighting its prescient vision of reality television and strong musical numbers, along with the performance of Jessica Harper.
Finally, Shears recounted a vivid experience at Mysterious Mansion, a haunted attraction in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Revisiting it as an adult with friends and family, he said the intensity of the experience surpassed his childhood memories, describing it as “15 out of 10” on the scare scale.