Comprehensive information and links about Rock School

Rock School Rock School is a British reality TV series starring Gene Simmons (from the band KISS), in which he has a short time to turn a class of school children into a fully fledged rock band, at the end of which they must perform in a supporting slot for a leading rock band.

Rock School is made by British production company RDF Media and has been shown on Channel 4 in the UK, Channel Ten in Australia, TVNZ's TV2 in New Zealand, VH-1 in the United States and Much Music in Canada.

A comedy film with a similar theme, starring Jack Black, called , was released in 2003, before the first series began although the creative team and Gene Simmons insist that it was not because of the success of that film they made it, and say it was in the works since 2002.

Apparently, rapper Ice T has been inspired to make a similar show tentatively titled

The first series was broadcast in the autumn of 2005 and took place with students at Christ's Hospital school in England. The class of year 9 students were all classically trained and had no interest in rock music.

The band consisted of Josh AKA "Emperor" as lead singer, Dudley AKA "Dudders" as drummer, Jesse AKA "Bagpuss" as guitarist, Kwamé AKA "Mr. Cool" on keyboards and bassist Camilla (who refused to have a "rock name"). On the 21st October, the manager, Rodney AKA "Rods", revealed the band's name to be "The Class". After an initially difficult start the band successfully played to a crowd of Motörhead fans at the Hammersmith Apollo.

The highlight of the programme was no doubt 'The Emperor', real name Josh. The 13 year old was a real exception to his classmates. A fluent speaker of Elvish and learning Klingon by the end of the series, Josh is completely tone deaf but was chosen by Gene Simmons for his determination and perserverence. Completely transformed by the experience, Josh sees himself as a rock god by the end of filming and has grown hair in homage to Brian May.

Series Two

Following strong international sales for the first series, a second series began filming in October 2005 at Kirkley Community High School in Lowestoft and began airing on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on Sunday January 29th, 2006. A new twist to this series was that instead of classically trained musicians, Simmons was working with students from a less affluent area, almost all of whom had a tendency to ignore everything asked of them. Another twist is that these students were year 11 rather than year 9 so they would more rebellious. At the end of this series the band would be supporting Judas Priest in Los Angeles.

In the second episode of the series the band, dubbed No Coment [sic] and comprising Ellie (vocals), Samanie (guitar), Lindsey (bass), Jess (keyboards) and Sammi (drums - the only boy in the band) played their first gig to an audience of predominantly old age pensioners at a local bowls club.

The first two episodes revolve around Little Chris, a personality packed five-footer. He goes on holiday at the end of episode one, leaving Simmons in despair. The band spend episode two worrying what will happen to their places in the band when Little Chris returns - he sings, he drums, he plays guitar and even sang a song of his own composition in episode one. From Jan 2006, Little Chris presents his own rock show on the school radio station from 12.30 to 1.30 on Wednesdays, broadcast live on the web at Kplay Radio.

In the final episode Gene revealed the final line-up of the band, dropping an obviously devastated Ellie and replacing her on vocals with Little Chris. He also renamed the band Hoax UK, inspired by a slogan on Chris' cap. The band and the rest of the class travelled to Los Angeles where they successfully opened for Judas Priest with their song, Is there any out there, written mainly by Little Chris:

I want to learn to fly I want to climb so high It's kicking off

Bought a ticket out this hole Play my rock and roll We're kicking off

Going to take my life My life to new levels Going to shake it all up Until my heart rate trebles

We're getting out this place Now get out my face We're lifting off

Somewhere we can get more Feel more We're lifting off

The words of the song may have been prophetic. A week after the show ended, Little Chris's mother was phoned by record producers Ray Hedges and Nigel Butler, who came on the show to help with Is There Any Out There, and were as blown away as Gene Simmons by Chris. He (real name Chris Hardman)is now working with them in London on a song provisonally entitled 'Checkin' It Out'.

There're some diary thoughts of Chris at http:

Trivia

Kirkley High School, site of the second series, was actually attended by three members of the band The Darkness, although the programme did not mention this.

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