Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant is opening up about why he allowed Jack Black’s School of Rock to use “Immigrant Song” in the movie.
Speaking with Vulture, Plant said, “My response is: Why not? Our songs didn’t come from Valhalla. It’s not a preferred destination, either,” he says. “I like the idea of taking the hammer to another time.”
“Jack Black made a magnificent meal of it,” Plant adds. “It’s a killer guitar riff. What a shame ‘Immigrant Song’ isn’t easy for kids to play, by the way. Everyone gets it, young and old. It’s a great song. Not only slightly ridiculous but ridiculous. Considering that we wrote it in midair leaving Iceland — a fantastically inspiring gig and an adventure, beyond which there will be no books written. To give it to the kids is important. Send it up, send it down, and just keep sending it.”
So, how did Black do? Plant was very impressed, saying, “Jack Black got it right down…” He adds, “All of my grandkids have all been able to play Jack Black’s riffs. I think it was exactly the right thing to do, with School of Rock, to blow our myth up into the sky for a while. Because it’s all myth. It doesn’t matter. I’ve watched the film and find it funny.”
When it comes to which movies are allowed to use Zeppelin songs, Plant says there is a process that movies have to go through to get approval.
“I’m not responsible for all the decision-making when it comes to where we allow our music,” he says. “It’s group decisions… We have to go through the whole thing together. Not to generalize, but quite often we’re presented with a scene that’s in the script or cuts of a film. When there’s something uncomfortable, unpleasant, or overtly just not the right place for our music to be, we say no. The music is dynamic. There it is, sitting there, and happily waiting for romance or nuance or drive that should link to a film with substance.”
