School of Rock is a comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin, and written by Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman. Black plays struggling rock guitarist Dewey Finn, who is fired from his band and subsequently poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school.
After witnessing the musical talent of the students, Dewey forms a band of fourth-graders to attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands and use his winnings to pay his rent. School of Rock was released on October 3, 2003, by Paramount Pictures, grossing $131 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.
The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise for Black‘s performance and humor. Disregarding inflation, it was the highest-grossing music-themed comedy of all time until the release of Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015.A stage musical adaptation opened on Broadway in December 2015, and a television adaptation for Nickelodeon premiered on March 12, 2016.
The Soundtrack album School of Rock (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture) was released on September 30, 2003. Sammy James Jr. of the band The Mooney Suzuki penned the title track with screenwriter Mike White, and the band backed up Jack Black and the child musicians on the soundtrack recording of the song.
The film’s director, Richard Linklater, scouted the country for talented 13 year old musicians to play the rock and roll music featured on the soundtrack and in the film. The soundtrack includes Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin, a band that has a very long history of denying permission for use of their songs in film and television.
Linklater came up with the idea to shoot a video on the stage used at the film’s ending, in which Jack Black begs the band for permission with the crowd extras cheering and chanting behind him. The video was sent directly to the living members of Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones), who granted permission for the song. The video is included on the DVD and Blu-ray.
Tracklist:
- School of Rock: School of Rock cast
- Your Head and Your Mind and Your Brain: (dialogue) Jack Black
- Substitute: The Who
- Fight: No Vacancy
- Touch Me : The Doors
- I Pledge Allegiance to the Band: (dialogue) Jack Black
- Sunshine of Your Love (by Cream)
- Immigrant Song: Led Zeppelin
- Set You Free: The Black Keys
- Edge of Seventeen: Stevie Nicks
- Heal Me, I’m Heartsick: No Vacancy
- Growing on Me: The Darkness
- Ballrooms of Mars: T. Rex
- Those Who Can’t Do: (dialogue) Jack Black
- My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg) Ramones
- T.V. Eye: The Stooges
- It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) (covering AC/DC): School of Rock cast
