Thursday, October 21, 2004
Elton John wants the group to open some shows for him.
By RICH COPLEY
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Scott Hoffman's friends from Lexington, Ky., probably know him as an old soul -- a guy who always looked and acted more mature than the age on his driver's license.
But the world is getting to know him as Babydaddy, one of the founding members of Scissor Sisters, the flamboyant dance-pop quintet that has already topped the charts in England and launched a stateside assault last summer with the U.S. release of its self-titled debut album.
"Scissor Sisters" dropped Feb. 2 in Great Britain and methodically gained chart momentum and the attention of legendary stars such as Kylie Minogue, who reportedly wants to record with Scissor Sisters, and Elton John, who personally invited the group to open some shows for him in England.
"He's been one of the highlights of the whole thing for us," Hoffman says, speaking from a tour bus in England. "That he found out about us, contacted us and asked us to do his shows was such a huge compliment because we have so much respect for him."
No wonder
The respect shows in the grooves of "Take Your Mama," the band's first hit single. From the heavy piano-based rhythm to the falsetto vocals, it sounds like "Philadelphia Freedom"-era John. And the bands' outrageous outfits are reminiscent of Sir Elton's sequined Dodgers uniform and duck suit days.
The reception of their debut album, which topped the British charts earlier this month, and other hits such as "Laura" seem to say the band is on its way.
In addition to opening for Elton John, Hoffman says, other thrills have been playing on the popular British music show "Top of the Pops" three times and, in several writers' estimations, stealing the show at the legendary Glastonbury Festival.
Hoffman says the band first took aim at England because its manager used to work for London Records, and searching for gigs, the band was constantly drawn back to Britain.
"The U.K. was much more open to what we were doing," Hoffman says.
That's why, as Scissor Sisters prepares to hit the U.S. market, Hoffman says, the group is keeping its expectations low.
"We've never had a lot of faith in the U.S., because of the state of music in the U.S. -- so not challenging," Hoffman says. "So few acts that have passion for what they do."
Upside, downside
Although he fears radio programmers' being cool to them and already expects some music retailers such as Wal-Mart will not carry "Scissor Sisters" because its sexual content warranted a parental advisory label, Hoffman says, he could also see the situation as an opportunity for a fresh, jubilant sound to catch the public ear.
Among his favorite comparisons for the band are acts such as Duran Duran, which Scissor Sisters has opened for.
"To think we're carrying on the Duran Duran tradition makes me proud," Hoffman says. "Their music was pop music, but it was subversive. It speaks to the outsider, and it's completely accessible to everyone."