Fresh off their European tour, Canadian import The Cliks return to America this month to continue what they started earlier this year: defying definitions – and your sense of acceptance.

In a recent interview, Lucas Silveira – the band’s trans front man – chats about The Cliks’ breakout summer, his make-out session with Margaret Cho, why he makes angry music, how his gender-identity issues are helping others and exactly how far he’ll go to keep you a fan of the band.

Spoiler alert: It has something to do with sex.

Gay & Lesbian Times: This summer has been amazing for The Cliks. Congrats! How does it feel?

Lucas Silveira: Thank you, and it feels great. We’re very happy with everything that’s happening.

GLT: You kicked off the season with some dates on the True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper and friends. What was that like? Any funny stories?

LS: It was an amazing and very surreal experience. We were touring with bands we’ve been fans of for years, so it felt strange but in an “I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening” way. As for funny stories, it was pretty funny when right before we were about to perform at Red Rocks in Denver, the one and only Margaret Cho tells me that she will be making out with me after our set is done. Here I am, two days into meeting her, thinking, yeah, she’s been flirting with me but she’s a comedienne; of course she’s kidding around. Lo and behold, we finish our set and out comes Margaret as she announces, “Ladies and gentleman, The Cliks!” and literally grabs me by the face and proceeds to put her tongue in my mouth. That was pretty funny. And sexy.

GLT: I hope you enjoyed it! Another big surprise is that the video for your single “Oh Yeah” made it all the way to No. 1 on MTV’s LOGO network.

LS: I think when things like that happen, a band is always surprised. I mean, it’s what we strive for, but it’s always an amazing feeling of accomplishment. On top of that, we’re a Canadian band and we never thought we would have that much impact so soon in the United States. So yes, it came as a surprise, but a very welcomed one.

GLT: You’ve recently returned from touring in Europe. Where did the band travel to? How did the Europeans react to your music?

LS: We began in Germany where we hit Hamburg, Koln and Berlin, and I fell in love with Berlin. We then went to Amsterdam, Paris and did three shows in the London area and one in Brighton. The reaction was amazing. We went there thinking we’re a little band from Canada, and we don’t even have distribution here so not many people know of us. But it was awesome to see all these people who knew words to our songs and came just to see us.

GLT: Now that you’re back in America, how are you planning to keep the buzz alive about the band?

LS: The only way a rock-and-roll band knows how – we offer sex. Ya’ know, the usual.

GLT: I wouldn’t call your music angry, but I think you’d agree that it definitely has an edge, a raw frustration to it. Where does that come from? And how are you able to lay it down on an album?

LS: I’d call it angry! But more like angry-passionate, not angry-asshole. I think my edge comes from a lot of places. I mean, I grew up in a really vibrant and expressive family and when we fought, we fought, but there was always something under that which, to me, was an unconditional love that allowed you to get it all out and then an hour later go sit together and be like, “Whatcha doin’?” and all was well. That’s how I see my songwriting – like a big, passionate, angry fight with a lot of love in it, and that’s how I tend to lay down that emotion. It’s just where I come from inside.

GLT: Of course, The Cliks is nontraditional in many ways, but most notably because you, Lucas, are a transgender male. Do you think that that uniqueness gives The Cliks an advantage, or is it actually something you have to overcome?

LS: The only uniqueness that it gives me at this point in time is that I happen to be in the eye of the media as far as being an out trans person in a mainstream rock band. I don’t take it as a disadvantage because I’m well aware of how much media we have received because of it and that’s never a bad thing. Everyone has a story, this happens to be mine. On the other hand, I think that if the music wasn’t there, the media wouldn’t be as interested in covering the band.

GLT: When you’re doing the talk-show circuit, is your sexuality always a topic of conversation? Is it something you like to talk about, or something you’d rather not?

LS: Yes, sexuality comes up a lot and I personally have absolutely no problem in talking about my sexuality. I feel really comfortable in who I am and never feel strange talking about it. I think the discomfort for me comes when people want to talk about relationships to a point of it bordering on invasive. But people in general are pretty cool if you ask them to back off a bit.

GLT: As a transgender person in the spotlight, you’re in an interesting position to sort of influence others who might have gender-identity issues. What kind of feedback do you receive from fans regarding this issue? How do you respond?

LS: I’ve had amazing feedback from fans that do everything just to give their support to sharing their own personal stories with me, which I love to hear. My response is always, “fuck yeah!” I love that there is a new movement of self love among the trans community, and I want it to keep moving forward in this direction.

GLT: Last question – your latest album Snakehouse dropped earlier this year and you’re still releasing singles from the disc, but when can your fans expect the next album? Are The Cliks back in the studio?

LS: We will be touring to support this album for a while. It’s only been out since the end of April. I’m always working on new material and have written quite a number of songs in the last little while, but I can’t see us getting back into the studio until mid to late next year. If I had it my way, I’d be in the studio every day, but we have a lot more people to reach and I think that’s the goal right now – world domination!

Catch The Cliks in concert opening for The Cult Dec. 5 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles or Dec. 9 at the House of Blues in Anaheim. For ticket prices and show times, log on to www.thecliks.com.