Rock School Television Series
Rock School on Channel 4
Last year, Christ’s Hospital teamed up with an international TV Production Company, to film Rock School – a series featuring Gene Simmons of US Rock Band ‘Kiss’ fame.
The series is scheduled to start on Channel 4 on Friday, 30th September at 9.30pm (subject to change).
Read the full Press Release.
Episode 1
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
“Hello kiddies, welcome to your first day in school…” Wild man of rock Gene Simmons arrives at Christ’s Hospital boarding school on an unusual mission: to teach a music class of 13 year-olds how to rock. But Gene’s lifestyle is worlds apart from the school way of life – are the prim and proper students ready for ‘Demon’ from Kiss? And is Gene ready for his pupils, used to more classical forms of music, who meet his arrogant rock god persona with fear and bemusement?
Lessons begin and the kids try to loosen up and invent their new rock nicknames, while Gene’s first task is to pick a lead singer from the group. His choice doesn’t go down well with the students. “A rock star is about attitude, it’s never about the best singer,” Gene explains. “You’re either a star or you’re not. And he’s our rock star.”
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 7th October at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 2
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
It’s Gene’s second week at Christ’s Hospital and he takes the kids to their first ever rock gig to show them how it’s done. But there are mixed reactions, especially from Camilla who dismisses it as “pointless noise”.
The school invites Mr Simmons to take hymn practice in the chapel and also to defend his right to teach rock at the school debating society. There, he is pitted against the veteran of British broadcasting, Nicholas Parsons, and finds his decadent lifestyle called into question by the students. Gene also has to choose a guitarist and drummer for the band.
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 14th October at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 3
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
Gene is settling into his role of teacher, although some of his pupils are still struggling to take him seriously. The children compete for the final positions in the band. Those that don’t make it throw major rock ‘n’ roll tantrums, but Gene doesn’t even notice. Do the band members care? Hell no! They’re already settling into their rock star personas.
Gene is invited to perform to local pensioners at Christ’s Hospital’s weekly recital, and a Kiss tribute band performs to try and inspire the children.
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 21st October at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 4
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
Gene allocates the roles of stylists, manager and stage designers and then leaves the children on their own as they struggle to write and learn a song. But this rock star malarkey is harder than it looks and there are tears from Emperor as the others turn on him for failing to sing in tune. But it’s not Gene’s problem – he’s nipped off to LA for the American Music Awards, with Deputy Headmistress Mary Ireland as his date!
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 28th October at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 5
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
Gene reveals to the band, aka The Class, that they’ll be opening for Motorhead at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in just a week’s time. Rehearsals continue in earnest and the band’s stage design and rock outfits are unveiled. The group gives its first interview to a national radio station. But their performance fails to impress and, as soon as they have left the station, an argument breaks out between Gene and the students which finishes with them telling him to go home.
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 4th November at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 6
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
Emotions run high as The Class prepares for their final test and their first public performance – playing to a crowd of 5,000 hardened rockers and opening for Motorhead. There are tears when manager Rods and lead singer Josh fall out over an incident in the school lunch queue, and the band gets increasingly nervous about the prospect of failure. The big day arrives and The Class performs their song to a sell-out crowd. Will Gene’s weeks of tuition pay off? Will Rock School graduate with flying colours?
The series continues on Channel 4 on Friday, 11th November at 9.30pm. Read the full Press Release.
Episode 7
Episode guide from the Channel 4 website.
Six months have passed since Gene Simmons descended on Christ’s Hospital school, educating the unsuspecting students in the ways of rock. Since then, the motley crew has disbanded and the children have returned to their classical training. But when they receive an unexpected invitation from Gene to join him at his LA mansion, do they unleash their inner rock gods once more? Do they heck!
Read the full Press Release.
Rock School Press release
Last year, Christ’s Hospital teamed up with RDF Media, an international TV Production Company, to film Rock School – a series featuring Gene Simmons of US Rock Band ‘Kiss’ fame.
Mr Simmons came to Christ’s Hospital, as a former teacher and musician, and was filmed helping a group of classically trained musicians apply their skills to a different kind of musical technique, as well as learning the art of performance, creating a stage set and writing their own song. The programme shows a clear private side to Mr Simmons’ character which is in contrast to his show business public persona and, coming from a disadvantaged background himself, he related well to our pupils.
Before the School embarked on this television series with RDF Media, the involvement with Mr Simmons and his reputation was something that was carefully considered by the Council of Almoners who exercised a tight supervision over the project. The Head Master and other staff of the School assessed the potential risk of being associated with the programme, and subject to stringent security checks and full supervision of the pupils during filming, decided to take part.
The programme has been sold to Channel 4 in the UK, Vh1 in the US and Network Ten in Australia. It is currently being screened in Australia and the US and is scheduled to start on Channel 4 on Friday, 30th September at 9.30pm (subject to change). The reaction received from those who have already seen the previews suggest the series is well worth seeing and that the pupils, filmed in their LE year (age 13), already demonstrate CH qualities of independence and confidence. The programme promoters will trade off Mr Simmons’ popularity and reputation to increase their ratings and some journalists may have similar motives and are quite capable of distorting the information that has been given. However, during the programmes, the pupils clearly show themselves as able to make considered judgements on Mr Simmons’ reputation and values and are generally unimpressed by the lifestyle of a rock star.
The experience of being part of this programme has been considered a valuable educational one and a unique opportunity for the children involved. The project, being fairly circumscribed, was considered an opportunity to develop further a diversity of talents and should not affect or distort the known high quality of a CH education and the reputation that has built on that. We expect that Old Blues and parents who watch the series will be able to distinguish between Mr Simmons reputation and the ideals that the School holds dear.
Should you require any further information about programme scheduling, visit the Channel 4 website www.channel4.com.
Other information relating to Christ’s Hospital and Rock School, please email rockschool@christs-hospital.org.uk. Due to the high level of interest in this programme, we cannot always respond individually.