Rock School out now on DVD

If you're over 25 and British, you might remember Rock School - the epic BBC2 how-to-play-music show from 1987 that introduced a generation of young minds to a world of hexagonal drums, silver MIDI guitars and Jan Hammer. A chap calling himself sorcerers_cave is selling home-made DVDs of the series on eBay.

To save you the trouble of Googling them yourself, here's what those presenters are doing now: Dierdre Cartwright (a former member of Beaver), is doing very well playing jazz. Geoff Nicholls is still teaching drums, just as Henry Thomas is still teaching bass. Henry also gigs with Brit Jazzer Sarah Jane Morris, who also employs with Alistair Gavin, when he's not playing at the Lion King or Mamma Mia in London.

Posted by Tom Whitwell.

Comments:

I remember watching it, definitely before 1984

komosalab.co.uk

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:21 am

Never saw the show, but learned guitar from the "Rockschool" book...

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:05 am

Defintely older than 88 for sure. Watched in Canada on TV Ontario, I believe.

I remember Herbie Hancock doing show openings/closings or maybe both? And the bass player having the bass way up near his neck!

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:33 pm

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:33 pm

I remember the episode where they cover the different EQ and amp settings for different styles.

Once Henry uttered the phrase, "...heavy, heavy bass", that was it for me. I've been a four-banger ever since.

# posted by

Anonymous : 9:37 pm

For trade on DVD: Complete 16 episodes of BBC series Rock School 1983 and 1987. Starring : Dierdre Cartwright, Geoff Nicholls, Henry Thomas and second series Alastair Gavin. USA host is Herbie Hancock. Series One titles: Equipment, Tuning, Techniques, Blues, Heavy Metal, Funk, Reggae, The Future.Further details about the Second Series visit: Http://www.strellis.com/rockschool.html

Will trade for Beatles or Police rarities on DVD.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:44 pm

sly dunbar and robbie shakespeare make an apperance on the show demonstrating their dub riddims.
i also recall one of the guys from erasure giving a little demo on midi and programming music with keyboards and software...awesome!

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:39 pm

Classic bits:

Henry: "the bass guitar is *vitally* important in heavy metal music"

Deirdre: "sounds a bit like this" cue f*cking awesome solo.

Seeing Gary Moore playing a Strat with a big line of Boss pedals got me lusting. I still have my Boss stuff and red strat copy from the 80s...still cant pull of a lead break like D though.

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:38 am

Alastair Gavin was the best, he's my dad!

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:38 pm

I nearly wet myself when I saw Bootsy Collins was on the funk episode - it was the funkiest thing I've ever seen/heard before or since...

# posted by

Anonymous : 4:31 pm

I Found Rock School in 1987 hosted By The Legend "Mr. Herbie Hancock." on TV. I have been a student and a fan eversince. Henry Thomas, Diedre, Geoff, Alastair are the best I have ever heard. I adore these Talented musicians. I missed seing them on TV.

# posted by

Anonymous : 11:10 am

Hi just a comment on deirdres guitar surely its a prs custom 24 in maybe series 2 or maybe the first series that would mean shes one of the first prs players out there before santana?

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:44 pm

Is that a prs custom 24 in series 2 must one of the first ones in england

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:45 pm

Hey guys,

I live in Sydney Australia and am trying to get hold of a copy/copies! of this series from way back when.

Can anyone help ? If so please email me.

frank@eurocam.com.au

Thanks,
Frank

# posted by

Anonymous : 5:46 am

I really want the original Rock School covering guitar, bass and drums.
Can anyone please tell me where to look for it?

Thanks,

John Hill

# posted by

John : 11:46 pm

This series tought me how to play the pentatonic......

It's still all I play....I'm forever grateful, my gf might not be as she has to hear it again and again....

This is what's needed now instead of Guitar Hero....spend 100hrs practising ....either high score on a console or bleeding fingers and play it for real

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:02 pm