Full Breakdown
Jake Shears Joins “Tinderbox” Film as Producer and Music Contributor
7/10/2026, 3:43:54 PM
Core Event
Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears has signed on as a producer for the upcoming feature film *Tinderbox*, which dramatizes the 1973 Up Stairs Lounge fire—the deadliest mass killing of LGBTQ people in the United States until the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting. In addition to producing, Shears will provide music from his solo albums *Jake Shears* and *B-Sides*.
Background & Context
The Up Stairs Lounge fire claimed 32 lives and ignited a pivotal moment in gay-rights history. Author Robert Fieseler chronicled the tragedy in his 2018 book *Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation*. The book has attracted renewed interest, prompting filmmakers Colby Holt and Sam Probst to adapt it for the screen.
Key Figures & Groups
- Jake Shears – Singer-songwriter, now producer and music contributor.
- Robert Fieseler – Author of the source book, represented by UTA.
- Colby Holt & Sam Probst – Writers-directors, previously helmed the indie horror *Ganymede*.
- Cory Thompson – Producer at Rewind Artists, the production company backing the film.
- Rewind Artists – Production outfit; also represents Holt and Probst.
- WME and Fascination Management – Agencies representing Shears.
Official Statements & Responses
The filmmakers explained their creative alignment with Shears’ music:
> “The more we listened, the more we started to think that Jake’s songs and lyrics related to different characters and scenes in Robert’s book.” — *Colby Holt and Sam Probst*
> “Jake and Robert are both New Orleanians, and we feel since these two works were created in this same city, during the same time period, they must have just been in the air together and somehow we picked up on the tune.” — *Colby Holt and Sam Probst*
Producer Cory Thompson highlighted the project's cultural relevance:
> “Tinderbox is exactly the kind of project we’re passionate about developing at Rewind Artists—stories that are both artistically ambitious and culturally significant.” — *Cory Thompson*
> “Robert’s book is extraordinary, and from the moment Colby and Sam shared their vision for the adaptation, I knew this was a film we wanted to help bring to life. Jake’s involvement only strengthens an already incredible creative team, and we’re excited to continue building the project together.” — *Cory Thompson*
Why It Matters
By pairing a high-profile pop star with a historically significant LGBTQ tragedy, *Tinderbox* aims to broaden public awareness of the Up Stairs Lounge fire and its role in the gay-liberation movement. The collaboration underscores a growing industry focus on stories that blend artistic ambition with cultural significance, potentially reaching audiences beyond traditional documentary viewers.
