How The Beach Boys & David Bowie Inspired Rock’s Most Unexpected Album
In 2001, the most unlikely rock album took the world by storm. It didn’t feature seasoned musicians. It featured 200 elementary school kids in a school gym, performing rock and pop songs of the 1970s, in the 1970s, in a single take. It’s backbone: the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. A main attraction among many: a song by David Bowie that he felt was the best cover of one of his songs he had ever heard. This is the story of The Langley Schools Music Project and the teacher behind it, Hans Fenger — a story that ultimately inspired the film School of Rock.
The black and white photos from The Langley Schools Music Project featured in this video are courtesy Bar None Records and were taken by Kevin Finseth.
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WATCH NEXT:
✓ Why Brian Wilson’s Passing Hit Harder than Expected: https://youtu.be/ECndq4jbhUM
✓ The Dark History of David Bowie’s “Young Americans” https://youtu.be/x8GYGY_zZr4
✓ David Bowie and the Story of “Andy Warhol” https://youtu.be/2f8Gux3JLOU
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Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 The Cover Song That Shocked David Bowie
1:47 The Philosopher Who Became a Music Teacher
4:33 One Bass Guitar Changed Everything
8:19 From Bowie to the Beach Boys (Teaching by Ear, Not by the Book)
13:30 Why the Beach Boys Became the Project’s Backbone
17:29 Recording Innocence and Despair
22:14 The Rediscovery That Shocked the World
28:10 What Happened to Hans After Langley?
34:39 The Echo That Still Rings
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@AndyFenstermaker
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
For a full (minimally edited) transcript and to hear music from the release, join the Poetic Wax Substack for free 👉 https://poeticwax.substack.com/p/how-the-beach-boys-and-david-bowie
Next, see why Brian Wilson's passing hit harder than expected 👉 https://youtu.be/ECndq4jbhUM
@schtuff.8207
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
this made my day
@satellitesoundlab
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
The cat cameo around 0:49 was great
@stefannelson
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
I love this album, more people need to listen to it. Great video, thank you.
@matthewbrown7572
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
I teach art to HS students in East LA and I always tell them that Art is the most important subject in school. Forget calculus, biology, ect, LOL. I give you permission to do art in those other classes. They get a kick out of it.
@maraflores6625
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Great interview – I had never heard this before so thanks for sharing!
@SandelphonFrostburn
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Awesome story!
Also wondering if you'll cover any records by the cure?
@Xcalator35
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Never got the hype on this record. Children making covers of rock tunes…ok…so what?! The covers are not 'exceptional' and 'amazing' as some like to claim, they're 'ok' (you have LOTS of better versions by children's choirs even here on youtube). By 2001 rock music's originality was already waning and every band was looking to the music of the past to get (way more than just) 'inspired'. This record was part of that 'Retromania', as Symon Reynolds called it.
@GCSoundArtifacts
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Definitely, my favorite episode of yours. Amazed to learn such AMAZING story coming from the guy who has operated an incredible achievement in music education and music itself… Thank you!
@tomjamison5934
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Thanks for turning me on to a Special and Unique record. 🌟
@tristanmckaymarcum9776
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
Andy! This is really awesome and inspiring! I teach elementary music, and experienced similar feelings around typical “children’s” songs. I use pop, rock and hip hop music and a ton of amazing donated gear in my everyday instruction as well! Great interview! I really like your channel, but this is next level. Thank you!
@SkinnyEatWorld95
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
It's amazing what artists are able to inspire. Appreciate the history of this.
@giitanjalichiya2116
July 31, 2025 at 2:29 am
this is really so sweet
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