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Dry your eyes, Erasure, Village People, and Pansy Division fans, and fork over that crown. It's official: The biggest, gayest band in the world is Scissor Sisters. The New York quintet, featuring three openly gay men--bassist-keyboard player Babydaddy, singer Jake Shears, and guitarist Del Marquis--plus singer Aria Matronic, a self-confessed "gay man trapped in a woman's body," and drummer Paddy Boom, managed to score four top 10 singles and a number 1 album in England. In America the group's Bee Gees-ian retro-fit of "Comfortably Numb" became a dance club staple, while the funky "Take Your Mama" shook up modern rock radio. This summer their serf-titled debut topped Billboard magazine's trendsetting Heatseekers chart.

"It all happened so fast," admits Babydaddy. "I can't believe that our album wasn't even out a year ago." The band navigated a slippery slope on their ascent. On one hand, they insisted that sexuality be part of the pitch. "That was something we said in the first [record company] meeting: We are a gay band. That's what we are. Take it or leave it."

But they were also determined to be marketed as a mainstream pop group. "Everything that's commercial has its artful side," Babydaddy clarifies. "There is this ideal that coats the whole Scissor Sisters package, but ultimately we want to make 3 1/2-minute pop songs."

If another measure of achievement is the company we keep, Scissor Sisters are golden. They have remixed singles for Pet Shop Boys and Blondie. Fred Schneider of the B-52's has hopped onstage. And they have been blessed by Bono in addition to cutting a single with Kylie Minogue and performing with Duran Duran and Elton John.

"Elton was very inspiring," says Babydaddy, 28. "He came into our lives at a moment when we felt like things were moving too fast. And he told us, do what you have to do, tour your asses off, but make sure you stay in control."

So what's in store for 2005? First the quintet will crisscross the United States one more time. Then, after three weeks of Japanese and Australian dates in February, they return to the studio to finish their follow-up album.

Meanwhile, fans can bide their time with the DVD We Are Scissor Sister's ... and So Are You, due in January, featuring hidden extras. Such as? Well, if you missed the photos of Shears's no-underwear-beneath-the-kilt episode this summer, Babydaddy says, "Apparently, one of the Easter eggs is [footage of] Jake changing backstage."

TOP 10 ALBUMS

(1) Lesbians on Ecstasy This kick-ass quartet of Canadian dyke punks grinds up k.d. lang and Indigo Girls standards into infectious rave-ups.

(2) Scissor Sisters This queer-inclusive combo (right) puts vintage '70s pop sounds through the happy remix machine.

(3) Lucky, Melissa Etheridge How wonderful it is to hear our gal's unfiltered happiness and love in this joyful slice of rock, We can't wait till she's up and around and wowing us again.

(4) American Idiot, Green Day "Faggot America" gets a powerful voice in the queer-friendly punk combo's blistering political CD.

(5) Patience, George Michael The singer's promised "last CD" reflects a mature musician both at his peak and fully comfortable with being out.

(6) Want Two, Rufus Wainwright The eccentric troubadour keeps following his own drummer in a set that features a must-see live DVD.

(7) Hymns of the 49th Parallel, k.d. lang In a year when U.S. queers considered flocking north, what better time for the big-boned gal to celebrate Canada's great songwriters?

(8) This Island, Le Tigre The feminist trio delivers a sound that's accessible without sacrificing its punk-flavored emotional and political power.

(9) Spirit Pop, Jason and deMarco The gay Christian couple creates an original brand of sing-along pop to lift hearts and souls.

(10) The Other Side, Melissa Ferrick The legendary musician wrote, produced, engineered, sang, and played everything on this CD--and triumphed at it all.

Reighley is the author of Looking for the Perfect Beat (MTV/Pocket Books).