School of Rock is a 2003 American 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 eponymous album 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:
- For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (by AC/DC)
- Fight for Your Love (by No Vacancy)
- Stay Free (by The Clash)
- Touch Me (by The Doors)
- Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?(Ramones cover by Kiss)
- Sunshine of Your Love (by Cream)
- Back in Black (by AC/DC)
- Guitar riffs Dewey plays to Zack: Iron Man (by Black Sabbath),
Smoke on the Water (by Deep Purple) Highway to Hell (by AC/DC) - Substitute (by The Who)
- The Greatest Love of All (by George Benson)
- Roadrunner (by The Modern Lovers)
- My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg) (by Ramones)
- The Wait (Killing Joke cover) (by Metallica)
- In the Ancient Times (by School of Rock)
- Sad Wings (by Brand New Sin)
- Mouthful of Love (by Young Heart Attack)
- Black Shuck (by The Darkness)
- Immigrant Song (by Led Zeppelin)
- Set You Free (by The Black Keys)
- Edge of Seventeen (by Stevie Nicks)
- Ballrooms of Mars (by T. Rex)
- Moonage Daydream (by David Bowie)
- TV Eye (by The Stooges)
- Ride into the Sun (by The Velvet Underground)
- Heal Me, I’m Heartsick (by No Vacancy)
- School of Rock (by School of Rock)
- It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) (by School of Rock) (featuring The Mooney Suzuki)
- Math Is a Wonderful Thing (by Jack Black and Mike White)
