**How Jack Black Rocked the Doors Open for Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” in Hollywood**
For decades, Led Zeppelin held their music close to the chest. Unlike many of their contemporaries, the legendary rock band was infamously selective when it came to licensing their songs. While The Rolling Stones, The Who, and others were making regular appearances in blockbuster films, car commercials, and video games, Zeppelin’s catalog remained virtually untouched. Their legacy came first — and to protect it, they said “no” far more often than “yes.”
So when “Immigrant Song” thundered through the speakers during a pivotal scene in a Hollywood movie, jaws dropped. The film? *School of Rock*. The reason? Jack Black.
In what has become an almost mythic moment of rock cinema history, Black personally pleaded with the band to grant permission to use the song. Knowing their track record, he went all in. During a live shoot, Black stood on stage before a massive crowd of extras and addressed the band directly on camera. With heartfelt passion — and plenty of Jack Black energy — he begged Zeppelin to say yes. “Please, Led Zeppelin,” he said, “we need your song. This movie rocks, and your song kicks ass. Help us make it legendary.”
Against all odds, it worked.
Led Zeppelin, moved by the sincere and respectful plea, gave their blessing. The song’s placement in *School of Rock* not only elevated the film — it reminded a whole new generation of Zeppelin’s unrelenting power.
Years later, “Immigrant Song” would be used again, memorably in *Thor: Ragnarok*, but it was Jack Black who cracked the door open. His reverence for the band, and his fearless devotion to rock ‘n’ roll, gave Zeppelin fans something they never expected: a moment where legacy met cinema — and the gods of ro
ck said yes.
