Jack Black’s School of Rock used Led Zeppelin’s The Immigrant Song. So did Thor: Ragnarok. Black reckons they ripped him off and has challenged Thor – aka Chris Hewsworth, of course – to a “battle of the jams’.
We can recommend the odd Cottee’s raspberry number… But seriously, this really happened. Black took to Instagram to air his grievance, which started here…
If you’re not in a position to hit play on the little number, here’s a transcript…
“You know in School of Rock when I sing a part of that monstrous Led Zeppelin jam ‘Immigrant Song’ and it’s super bitching and like the raddest part of the movie? Well, it’s come to my attention that someone kind of stole that chunk of our movie and put it in their movie.
That’s right. I’m talking about Thor: Ragnarok. Totally bit our style, totally poached our jam, and now they’re parading around town like they thought of it. Well, you don’t get to do that and get away with it, bro.
I’m calling you out, Thor. This is a challenge. I challenge you to a battle! A battle of the jams!”
Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi used Twitter to wisely take a step back…
RP #jackblack: This is a challenge! #SchoolofRagnarok.
Also @chrishemsworth he distinctly said THOR so I guess it's on you bro. pic.twitter.com/bbSJUdqLGH
— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) November 11, 2017
While we hope that Jack’s only faux bent out of shape – as let’s face it, he hardly has ownership of the Led Zep classic – respect to Hemsworth for getting on the front foot and responding…
Getting all transcriptional again:
“You’re right, you got me. Argh – guilty as charged. We stole Immigrant Song from you, but guess what? You stole it too, and as Oscar Wilde once said, ‘Talent borrows and genius steals’, so we’re both guilty of the same crime.
We would have used your song, but as you said in your song, ‘This is not the greatest song in the world’, so we moved on.
You challenge me to a ‘Battle of the Jams’. I don’t know what that means! I don’t know what a ‘battle of the jams’ is. I know what jam is, jam on toast, I love a bit of that. A little Pearl Jam… awesome, and just general jammin’. So yeah… let’s do it. Whatever. My place or yours baby, I’m in.”
All we can say is that if this silliness really does escalate to a jammy face off, we really hope that it’s televised.
