• 54 minutes
    How Brian Molko (Placebo) Redefined Rock | Queer the Music with Jake Shears
    Season 4 of Queer The Music launches today in discussion with Placebo’s iconic frontman Brian Molko. In this special, extended edition, he and Shears discuss everything from their mutual love of David Bowie to outlier-status in alternative music and media. The episode also notably marks the 30th anniversary of Placebo’s radical breakout hit, ‘Nancy Boy’. Originally written in reclaim of a slur, ‘Nancy Boy’ explores themes of sexuality, gender and identity: it is now widely regarded as a defiant act of protest that continues to resonate with new audiences today. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 July 2026, 11:01 pm
  • 1 minute 58 seconds
    Queer the Music returns for season 4!
    Jake Shears’ hit Queer The Music podcast returns for its fourth season. Kicking off with an episode featuring Placebo’s Brian Molko, this follows a double win for the number 1-charting podcast at the prestigious Webby Awards (including ‘Best Music Podcast’), with guests for Season 4 already set to include Swedish pop queen Tove Lo plus DJ, alt-pop artist Baby Queen and drag royalty, Jodie Harsh. Entering its biggest and most ambitious season to date, Queer The Music celebrates the music, artists and cultural moments that have shaped LGBTQ+ lives, also shifting politics, perception and popular culture in plain sight. Stay tuned for a new episode dropping every Wednesday at 6pm.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 July 2026, 9:54 am
  • 42 minutes 32 seconds
    The Greatest Bits From The Past 3 Seasons

    Christmas has come early as Jake selects some of his favourite bits from the last 3 seasons. Really just a reminder to go back and listen to the episodes you've missed - there have been some brilliant conversations - wishing everyone a Happy New Year and thank you for listening to Queer The Music in 2025!

    We'd love to hear from you - get in touch via instagram @queerthemusicpodcast

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 40 minutes 30 seconds
    A Queer Year In Music with Self Esteem

    For this special episode of Queer The Music Jake is joined by the brilliant Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem. With a critically acclaimed new album, a concert tour and book under her belt this year, the pair have plenty to catch up on.

    Listen as Jake and Rebecca discuss their highlights of the year in queer music, answer questions from listeners, reveal what 2026 has in store for them and tell us who they’ll be kissing under the mistletoe.

    We'd love to hear from you - let us know who you would like to hear on Queer The Music - you can get in touch via instagram @queerthemusicpodcast or leave us a review

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 December 2025, 1:00 am
  • 52 minutes 39 seconds
    'Epic' by Faith No More with Roddy Bottum

    It's our season finale and we're delighted to be joined by Roddy Bottum, best known as the keyboardist of Faith No More. 

    Back in 1990 Roddy found himself in the spotlight in the rock world as its first openly gay star. In this special episode Jake and Roddy celebrate Faith No More's breakthrough hit 'Epic' and they discuss what it was like to be the only out queer in rock, on tour with Guns N' Roses and Metallica, his important friendship with Courtney Love and Curt Kobain and his brilliant memoir 'The Royal We'.

    Thank you for listening to Series 3 of Queer The Music! Keep an eye out for some special bonus episodes dropping next month...

    We'd love to hear from you - let us know who you would like us to feature on Queer The Music ⁠@queerthemusicpodcast⁠ via Instagram.


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    18 November 2025, 12:00 am
  • 46 minutes 4 seconds
    'Grace Kelly' by Mika

    This week on Queer The Music we celebrate Grace Kelly - the debut single from Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and Grammy nominated global pop visionary Mika. 

    Listen to Jake and Mika's fascinating conversation about Mika's childhood, the struggles he faced, how he found sanctuary through music, his creative process and how he created the hit single Grace Kelly which shot to the top of the UK charts and stayed there for 5 whole weeks

    Mika's new single Modern Times is out now

    We'd love to hear from you - let us know who you would like to hear on Queer The Music - you can get in touch via instagram @queerthemusicpodcast or leave us a review

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 November 2025, 12:00 am
  • 49 minutes 49 seconds
    'Queen' by Perfume Genius

    This week's episode celebrates the anthemic song 'Queen' by Perfume Genius. 

    Singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas aka Perfume Genius first emerged around 2010, his music has been described as ‘dreamy and melancholic’, ‘grandiose yet intimate’ and over the course of seven studio albums he continues to shapeshift while still sounding completely himself. He joins Jake to talk about the making of the song, the video, his creative process, influences and his brilliant latest album 'Glory'.

    Perfume Genius is currently on tour in the UK before heading to Australia. He is playing at the Roundhouse in London on the 11th of November - check his website for other shows. https://perfumegenius.org/

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 November 2025, 12:00 am
  • 53 minutes 43 seconds
    The B-52s (with Kate Pierson)

    This week is a big one - we are celebrating the iconic The B52's. A band that paved the way for queer artists through their unapologetic on-stage identity and camp aesthetic. Their non-conformist attitude and unique sound has had a huge and lasting impact on rock and pop music - you can witness their influence on artists from Boy George to Chappell Roan. Jake credits them with the very existence of The Scissor Sisters and was thrilled to speak to one of his all-time musical heroes Kate Pierson for this special episode. 


    You can watch the whole episode on YouTube here


    We'd love to hear from you - please get in touch via Instagram @queerthemusicpodcast

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 October 2025, 12:00 am
  • 42 minutes 49 seconds
    ‘My Lady of Mercy' by The Last Dinner Party

    Joining Jake Shears for this episode are Abigail and Georgia from one of the most talked-about bands of the moment…The Last Dinner Party. 

    2024 was a huge year for them; they landed a deal with Island Records, released their critically acclaimed debut album, 'Prelude to Ecstasy', supported The Rolling Stones, Lana Del Ray, Florence and the Machine and The Arctic Monkeys, and topped it off with sold-out solo tours and two Brit Awards. 

    It seems there’s no stopping this indie-rock, baroque-pop band, their second studio album 'From The Pyre' has just dropped and they’re off on a huge, international tour so we're lucky Abigail and Georgia made time to drop into the Queer The Music studio to talk about their creative process, how they met, what Queer music means to them and the meaning behind their song 'My Lady of Mercy'.


    You can watch the whole episode on YouTube here


    We'd love to hear from you - please get in touch via Instagram @queerthemusicpodcast

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 October 2025, 11:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 55 seconds
    ‘Not My Father’s Son’ from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter Part 2

    Welcome to the second part of the legendary Billy Porter on Queer The Music with Jake’s Shears where we hear the Tony, Grammy and Emmy award winner talk about his queer musical influences, politics, Pose and how playing Pray Tell, the flamboyant Master of Ceremonies in the New York City ballroom scene, changed Billy’s life


    You can watch the whole episode on Mercury Studios YouTube channel here

    We'd love to hear from you, get in touch via Instagram @queerthemusicpodcast

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 October 2025, 11:00 pm
  • 46 minutes 39 seconds
    ‘Not My Father’s Son’ from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter Part 1

    Queer The Music this week celebrates the multi-award winning actor, singer and activist Billy Porter

    Billy is the first gay Black man to win an Emmy Award in any lead acting category and in 2020 Time magazine included him in their list of 100 most influential people in the world

    He wowed Broadway with his lead performance as drag queen Lola in Kinky Boots, scooping a Tony Award and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater album. He joins Jake in this episode to talk about finding his voice, how he shaped the role in Kinky Boots, his love of musical theatre and of course that show-stealing ballad from the show, Not My Father's Son. 

    You can watch the full episode on Mercury Studios' YouTube Channel - here

    We'd love to hear from you - please send any questions to us via Instagram @queerthemusicpodcast - here

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 October 2025, 12:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App