School of Rock: The band every kid should start with, according to Jack Black
If there’s one Hollywood fact that has never, and can never be doubted, it’s that Jack Black loved School of Rock.
While plenty of actors end up coming to resent the role they end up being known for, or the character that lingers around their public presence forever, Black has always been more than happy to be Dewey Finn, or Mr Schneebly.
Whenever he gets the chance to talk about the 2003 movie, he still gushes about it. In 2023, he said, “It remains my favourite experience in my career because it gave me a chance to do all the things that I do best with acting and with performing and writing music, and working with my favourite writer, Mike White, who did such an incredible job writing in my voice… It’s very rare and very special when that happens.”
Really, though, it’s surely impossible to think of a better role for Black. How often in a performer’s life does their ultimate, perfect role come along that allows them to tie together all the different corners and sub-sets of their career? Basically, never – so naturally, Black is still incredibly grateful when the opportunity landed in his lap.
But more so than just being a role that combined music, acting and comedy, Black has always seemed to see how special School Of Rock is because of its connection to the kids. In the movie, he quite literally plays a teacher introducing his class to the world of rock with all its freedom and fun. When the movie came out and became a modern classic, he understood that his classroom had now become worldwide and generational.
Still spending time in interviews talking about bands old and new, Mr Schneebly’s class was very much in session when he considered the age-old debate – The Beatles or The Stones.
Two foundations of rock, the two greats of British music, both would be considered essential for any musical starter pack. But with his teacher hat on, Jack Black advised that for kids, start with the Fab Four.
“Beatles first,” he said, giving genuine parenting advice to MomsLA, “The Stones are a little bit dark, that’s for later.” Wise words from the world’s favourite substitute, Black would advise that you turn your kids onto something light like ‘Octopus’s Garden’ before hitting play on the political epic of ‘Sympathy For The Devil’, or the dark seduction of ‘Paint It Black’.
“You don’t start there, start with the devil, you start with the angel,” he said like a proverb for music, life and beyond, adding, “Then you go to the devil later on.”
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