Scissor Sisters’ Jake is bowled over by Bono’s lessons on life

BONO is known for doling out free advice to up-and-coming musicians and there are many stories of him turning up unannounced backstage.

Jake Shears, lead singer of US pop band Scissor Sisters, is about to release his autobiography, Boys Keep Swinging, and recalls getting ‘the talk’ from the U2 frontman, 57, as he prepared for a gig at a party in New York early in the band’s career.

‘I got down to the dressing room and Bono was there, wearing his sunglasses and perusing our looks for the day’s show,’ the 39-year-old writes. ‘“There he is, the man of the hour.” He reached out and hugged me.

“I didn’t know you would be here,” I said to him like an idiot.

‘“If you knew everything that was going to happen, then there would be no surprises,” he replied.’

At the after-show party, Bono pulled him aside: “Jake, you have a road in front of you, you do realise that, yes?” His voice was serious.

‘“You have decisions to make. Hey.” He splayed his hands. “This can be just a moment in time. And that’s fine. But it can be more than that, you see. This – music – can be your life. There’s two paths you can choose. One, you can go and get caught up in all the parties and attention, become interested in art. Or you can remain focused and just keep making music. Building something that lasts more than just now.”’

Jake says: ‘I’ve since heard that he gives this talk to a lot of younger artists, but his words stuck with me.’