In 1976, during their theatrical, rock-opera, wilderness period, seminal British rock band The Kinks released a high school musical. 34 years later, Schoolboys in Disgrace** is headed to the screen, courtesy of Bobcat Goldthwait and Kinks frontman Ray Davies{
Yes indeed, the genius oddball stand-up who directed Shakes the Clown, Sleeping Dogs Lie and World's Greatest Dad, and played nutcase biker Zed in the Police Academy movies, will bring us the origin story of the supervillain known as Mr Flash.
The album's sleevenotes tell us that, "Once upon a time there was a naughty little schoolboy. He and his gang were always playing tricks on the teachers and bullying other children in the school. One day he got himself into very serious trouble with a naughty schoolgirl and he was sent to the Headmaster who decided to disgrace the naughty boy and his gang in front of the whole school. After this punishment the boy turned into a hard and bitter character. Perhaps it was not the punishment that changed him but the fact that he realised people in authority would always be there to kick him down and the Establishment would always put him in his place. He knew that he could not change the past but he vowed that in the future he would always get what he wanted. The naughty little boy grew up... into Mr. Flash."
"Schoolboys in Disgrace is a story that any kid who has felt that they are not being treated fairly can relate to," says Goldthwait, "all set to some of the greatest rock songs you'll ever hear. It's the story of the world's most charming criminal and a realistic high school musical for all the kids who hate sugary, sweet, unrealistic high school musicals." We can't imagine which high school musicals he's referring to there.
Ray Davies will executive produce, with World's Greatest Dad's Sarah de Sa Rego, Howard Gertler and Tim Perell on full producer duties. The songs will be re-recorded by the cast, which has yet to be announced, although shooting is set to begin soon in the UK.
If it's a success, there's even potential for a sequel: the dastardly grown-up Mr Flash also features in The Kinks' two Preservation albums.