Jack Black Revealed He Once “Begged” Led Zeppelin to Be Part of His Film

A Rock Spirit in Hollywood

From the wild, self-absorbed producer in Tropic Thunder to the charming romantic in The Holiday, Jack Black has always brought his signature rock-and-roll energy to every role. His performances often carry an unfiltered enthusiasm that sets him apart from other leading men in Hollywood.

Among his many roles, none captures that spirit more than his portrayal of Dewey Finn in School of Rock (2003), directed by Richard Linklater. In the film, Black plays a down-on-his-luck musician who impersonates a substitute teacher and inspires a class of elite prep school students to embrace the power of rock music. His performance felt authentic because it was—Black’s real-life love for classic rock shines through in every scene.

Bringing Rock to the Classroom

In School of Rock, Black’s Dewey Finn turns his classroom into a rehearsal space, teaching his students about the raw emotion behind music rather than just scales or theory. Soon, the children are jamming to the sounds of Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. The movie resonated with audiences of all ages, becoming one of those films that can pull viewers in whenever it appears on screen.

Director Richard Linklater, already celebrated for his 1993 film Dazed and Confused, had long been known for weaving rock culture into his storytelling. That earlier movie featured a soundtrack stacked with icons like ZZ Top, Deep Purple, and Lynyrd Skynyrd—but Linklater always felt the absence of one major band. He had tried to secure permission to use Led Zeppelin’s music in Dazed and Confused, but the band declined. Years later, he saw another chance—with Jack Black’s help.

The Plea to Led Zeppelin

In a 2019 interview with GQ, Jack Black revealed the story behind how School of Rock finally got to use Led Zeppelin’s “The Immigrant Song.” “Linklater had real strong opinions about certain jams,” Black recalled. “He wanted that Zeppelin song really badly, and he’s the one that said, ‘Hey, I tried to get the Zeppelin music in Dazed and Confused—a movie that he directed before School of Rock—and they said no. Would you do me a favour and just make a video plea, just beg them to use ‘The Immigrant Song’?’”

Black didn’t hesitate. “And so I did,” he said. “I begged them on video with a huge audience of extras in the movie theatre that we were shooting in, and they all chanted with me: ‘Led Zeppelin, please bless us with your love!’ I don’t remember what I said, it was ridiculous and off the top of my head, and he sent it over there to them to England, and it worked.”

A Rock Legend’s Approval

The plea somehow reached the notoriously selective band—and it paid off. “They were like, ‘Oh, that’s funny. That’s funny, mate. Yeah, we’ll let him use the song,’” Black said, mimicking a British accent. “That’s not a very good imitation of Jimmy Page but… and it’s a great thing ’cause it’s one of the best parts of the movie, that song.”

Thanks to Black’s bold and heartfelt request, School of Rock earned one of its most memorable scenes, featuring “The Immigrant Song” blasting as Dewey and his young rock band hit the road. Whether it was the actor’s charm, humor, or sheer love for rock music, Jack Black managed to do what few could—get Led Zeppelin to say yes.