House of Rock
Encyclopedia
House of Rock is a satirical animation
that aired on the UK's Channel 4
from 2000 to 2002. It revolved around the afterlives of some of the world's most famous dead rock stars, including Freddie Mercury
, John Denver
, The Notorious B.I.G, Kurt Cobain
and Marc Bolan
. Bolan was replaced in the second series by John Lennon
. Forced to share a house in limbo
, they try to cope with isolation, clashing personalities and relentless boredom.
The show aired as part of Channel 4's late-night 4 Music. Often, segments of the episode would appear as links between videos, reminiscent of Beavis and Butthead. On average, each episode was 15 minutes long.
The characters occupy a huge rundown house in a bleak, depressing landscape with nothing around seemingly for miles. Much of the comedy comes from each character's frustrations with their surroundings, associates and inability to do anything further now they're dead.
.
. He can't stand Freddie Mercury, and would have shot him long ago if his gun was capable of doing anything.
, elfin Marc is only capable of talking in twee rhyming couplets in the style of his lyrics. Frustrated with his hippie sensibilities and feyness, when Satan Davina McCall
demands one of their number join her in hell Big Brother
style, the group agree on Marc. They are then horrified to discover his replacement is the peace-and-love obsessed John Lennon.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
that aired on the UK's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
from 2000 to 2002. It revolved around the afterlives of some of the world's most famous dead rock stars, including Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
, John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, The Notorious B.I.G, Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
and Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
. Bolan was replaced in the second series by John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
. Forced to share a house in limbo
Limbo
In the theology of the Catholic Church, Limbo is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other...
, they try to cope with isolation, clashing personalities and relentless boredom.
The show aired as part of Channel 4's late-night 4 Music. Often, segments of the episode would appear as links between videos, reminiscent of Beavis and Butthead. On average, each episode was 15 minutes long.
The characters occupy a huge rundown house in a bleak, depressing landscape with nothing around seemingly for miles. Much of the comedy comes from each character's frustrations with their surroundings, associates and inability to do anything further now they're dead.
Freddie Mercury
Extremely theatrical and flamboyant, Freddie is an extreme exaggeration of how he is usually perceived. Freddie openly despises all of his housemates and his vicious comments make him one of the most entertaining characters. He is very highly strung and quick to anger, especially when interacting with the Notorious B.I.G. He also keeps a cat called Galileo.John Denver
The group's only optimist, John is sweet and naïve, convinced there is some hope of emerging from limbo. As such he is constantly abused and berated by other more cynical housemates. His love of peace has led him to severely suppress his anger. John can often be heard using phrases used in Scooby Doo, such as "jinkies!"Kurt Cobain
Paranoid and depressed, Kurt is so tired of life he owns a pad of pre-printed suicide notes that he can stick anywhere like Post-it notes. Nevertheless, he's quite friendly, especially with Biggie and John. Kurt's dream is to be series champion on the UK gameshow Fifteen to OneFifteen to One
Fifteen to One was a popular general knowledge quiz show broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It ran from 4 January 1988 to 19 December 2003, and had a reputation for being one of the toughest quizzes on TV. Throughout the show's run it was presented and produced by William G. Stewart...
.
The Notorious B.I.G
Known as "Biggie" within the house, Notorious is especially depressed with limbo, since he has had to leave all the trappings of his hip-hop lifestyle behind. Sometimes his sexual frustration is so great he has to take it out on the house's postman, a constantly shuddering Sid ViciousSid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
. He can't stand Freddie Mercury, and would have shot him long ago if his gun was capable of doing anything.
Marc Bolan
The house's resident hippieHippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
, elfin Marc is only capable of talking in twee rhyming couplets in the style of his lyrics. Frustrated with his hippie sensibilities and feyness, when Satan Davina McCall
Davina McCall
Davina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
demands one of their number join her in hell Big Brother
Big Brother (TV series)
Big Brother is a television show in which a group of people live together in a large house, isolated from the outside world but continuously watched by television cameras. Each series lasts for around three months, and there are usually fewer than 15 participants. The housemates try to win a cash...
style, the group agree on Marc. They are then horrified to discover his replacement is the peace-and-love obsessed John Lennon.
John Lennon
Does not speak in rhyming couplets, but is pompous and pretentious, with a droning Scouse voice. He comes with his own Yellow Submarine, which he wears around his waist at all times.Cast
- Richard PreddyRichard PreddyRichard Preddy is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
- (voices - Marc BolanMarc BolanMarc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
& others) - Gary HoweGary HoweGary Howe is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
- (voices - John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
& others) - Gavin ClaxtonGavin ClaxtonGavin Claxton British producer, screenwriter and director of the feature film comedy The All Together starring Martin Freeman and Danny Dyer...
- (voices - Freddie MercuryFreddie MercuryFreddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
, Kurt CobainKurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
& others) - Cavin Cornwall - (voices - The Notorious BIG)
- Morwenna BanksMorwenna BanksMorwenna Banks is a British comedy actress, writer and producer.Banks is perhaps best known in the UK as a cast member of the British Channel 4 comedy series Absolutely, where her best-known character was a schoolgirl who sat on the edge of a desk.She appeared as the Keeper of the Rules in the...
(voices)
Crew
- Richard PreddyRichard PreddyRichard Preddy is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
- Writer - Gary HoweGary HoweGary Howe is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
- Writer - Gavin ClaxtonGavin ClaxtonGavin Claxton British producer, screenwriter and director of the feature film comedy The All Together starring Martin Freeman and Danny Dyer...
- Writer - Stuart Evans - Animation Director
- Gavin ClaxtonGavin ClaxtonGavin Claxton British producer, screenwriter and director of the feature film comedy The All Together starring Martin Freeman and Danny Dyer...
- Producer