Five modern bands that Dewey Finn from ‘School of Rock’ would obsess over
Who could ever forget it? The moment during our childhood, we all sat down and had Jack Black reveal the true power of rock music. It was the first time that many of us realised music was more than something sweet-sounding and fun. Instead, it could be used as a form of rebellion, something we could weaponise against our teachers, parents, and anybody else who tried to tell us what to do.
“The world is run by the man,” he tells the kids who are in need of a dose of reality. “He’s everywhere! In the White House, down the hall, Mrs Mullins… She’s the man. And the man ruined the ozone, he’s burning down the Amazon, and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank!” Just as the kids’ faces drop and the news of hopelessness hits home, Black gives them the way out: “There used to be a way to stick it to the man, it was called rock ‘n’ roll.”
Black’s character, Dewey Finn, certainly embodies his words, as throughout the film, he teaches the kids all about rock music, the rebellion contained within it and the bands who champion that mindset. For many, it was a gateway into rock music and the power it could have. Who knows, maybe some of those people who were inspired by the film are currently making rock music and carrying on the tradition of sticking it to the man.
With that in mind, it’s worth pondering over what modern bands might inspire Dewey Finn and who he would view as champions of sticking it to the man.
Five modern bands that Dewey Finn would love:
Amyl and the Sniffers
During an interview with Far Out, when Amyl and the Sniffers guitarist Declan Mehrtens was asked what going to their gigs was like, he replied honestly. “Doing Amyl, doing poppers, is kind of like going to an Amyl and the Sniffers gig,” he said, “There’s definitely, like, a rush, maybe perhaps slight loss of consciousness, and then a headache.”
That description could also be assigned to the opening scene of School of Rock, as Dewey Finn plays his face-melting solo, drenched in sweat, before unsuccessfully diving into the crowd. While Amyl’s gigs might be a bit busier and contain more successful examples of crowd surfing, the two feel somewhat parallel, and it’s safe to assume Dewey Finn would adore the ruthlessness, humour, and all-around fun of one of the greatest punk bands in the world.
Mdou Moctar
When it comes to speaking out against authority, very few modern rock artists do it as well as Mdou Moctar. Their most recent album, Funeral For Justice, is one of the greatest representations of rebellion within rock we have seen in recent years. The theme of the album and its execution are so powerful that using it in the same article as a fictional character played by Jack Black feels as though we are slightly undermining it, but what is music as a whole if you can’t respect it while also having fun with it?
There are a few reasons why Finn would adore this album. The first is because it embodies the rebellious spirit of rock ‘n’ roll that he tries so hard to get the kids in his class to understand. Rock can give a voice to those who would otherwise be unable to speak up for themselves, and it’s something truly extraordinary to listen to. The other reason is that their music contains some of the most face-melting guitar solos ever.
Viagra Boys
What would music be without a bit of fun? Finn understands this, as while he is constantly trying to teach kids how to rock, he also teaches them how to have fun at the same time. We see this as he improvises the song ‘Step Off’ with his class in a bid to teach them what it means to write real rock music. This is both a stab at authority and a parody of punk. With an attitude like this, Finn would no doubt be a fan of Viagra Boys.
You have never seen a better blend of contrasting factors than those which exist within Viagra Boys. They’re a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, while making music that they take very seriously. It makes for some of the most fun music and entertaining live shows in the modern age. Finn would undoubtedly be obsessed with them and happily blast the song ‘Punk Rock Loser’ whenever Patty (Sarah Silverman’s character) pesters him for rent.
HotWax
An exciting blend of rock, grunge and punk all exists within the confines of HotWax’s stellar debut album Hot Shock. In a four-star review, Far Out said, “You have riffs and solos; no one is arguing with that, and they sound great, but there are other exciting aspects to the band that it’s impossible not to get excited about. They can play around with chaos and use it as an additional instrument, something to be embraced instead of feared.”
The band’s ability to dance on the edge of chaos and create music that, in reality, is carefully put together but on the surface represents the haphazard nature of a rock show, which is something that Dewey Finn would unquestionably be obsessed with. HotWax embodies their influences while also creating a sound that is unquestionably theirs. It’s a great thing to hear, and the byproduct of one of the best rock bands in the world at the moment.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Finally, is there any band out there that represents sticking it to the man more than King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard? Not only do they make great rock music, but they do it completely independently. They don’t have any executives to impress, or have “the man” that they need to suck up to, instead, they can just enjoy making rock music.
Whether Finn wanted to dance, mosh, or play air guitar, there was an album in King Gizzard’s enormous catalogue that he could do it to. They left no stone unturned throughout their mass of albums, making for a treasure trove for any rock music fans out there.
