llan Arkush’s Ramones classic is full of heart, soul, and a whole lotta love.

When we think of punk rock and movies, the first (shit — the only) film that comes to mind is Rock ’n’ Roll High School, Allan Arkush’s 1979 classic that inspired thievery in video stores throughout America and helped many a suburban kid discover the Ramones. We were lucky enough to catch the director as he was wrapping up an epic tour of legendary music sites — Graceland, Sun Studios, Jazz Fest in New Orleans — the perfect mind-set to discuss the little rock ’n’ roll film that started life as a midnight movie and grew into a beloved cult favorite.

Forty years later, Rock ’n’ Roll High School lives on. What’s that like?  

It’s great. There’s not a month that goes by that someone doesn’t want to talk about it. When we made it, it was something I’d always wanted to do. It was my high school fantasy that a rock band would come to the school and we’d get out of class and go see them. For me, it was the Stones or the Yardbirds.

It’s a fantastic slice of 70s L.A., full of legendary locations — the Roxy, the Whiskey, Van Nuys High School, later used in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

I didn’t know that! We shot it there because they were very open to it. That school was in the playground scene in the beginning [where Riff blasts “Sheena is a Punk Rocker”], the gym, and the place where the mice get exposed to the Ramones. For all the other stuff we used an abandoned Catholic school — it wasn’t earthquake-proof, so they couldn’t have classes there.

When we initially met with schools to find a location, we used a fake script, because if they knew we were gonna blow up the school, there’d be no way they’d allow it. The Catholic school wasn’t damaged, but the explosions were about three times bigger than they were supposed to be.  

Do you remember Michael Goodwin, the Penthouse writer who covered the film’s 1978 shoot?

I do remember him — he was a really good movie critic. Michael is in the movie — he plays a science teacher in a montage with all the kids dancing. He was a friend of Richard Meltzer, who was one of the first rock critics [Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, Creem] and an old friend of mine.

The concert scenes are amazing. You’ve got a hilarious mix of awkward teenagers and punk kids.

When we realized we couldn’t afford to have a real crowd, one large enough to seem like it was a big concert, we came up with the idea of making the kids pay to see the Ramones. We got on this show on KROQ — Rodney on the ROQ, who was the DJ who played all the punk music in L.A. Rodney advertised on his show and the kids paid $2 or $3 to get in.

We had a couple different crowds, because we knew it was going to be a long day — it ended up being 18 or 20 hours. The Ramones were playing the same songs over and over, so when one crowd got surly, we’d let them go and bring in a new crowd. If you’re knowledgeable about the L.A. punk scene at the time, you’ll see Darby Crash and Pat Smear of the Germs, and many members of the Bags.

The first time I saw Rock ’n’ Roll High School it was totally badass. But watching it now, it seems so innocent. 

In all the years since we made it, there’s been so much school violence, but the movie has never been pointed to in any way. Remember — on their first tour in Europe, the Ramones made the Sex Pistols scared! They were like a New York street gang. And they couldn’t get booked anywhere, only in small clubs. They were the most outside-the-norm band imaginable.

When I heard the Ramones’ Rocket to Russia, I thought it was one of the greatest albums ever made. It synthesized Joey’s girl-group influence and [surf rock] harmonies with John’s guitar, so it sounded like the Beach Boys backed by chainsaw at four times the speed. Back then it seemed dangerous, now you see little kids bopping to it. But I feel great about that.

Another thing I feel great about is the Riff Randell and Kate Rambeau characters, the fact that I was able to portray them and not make anything sexual or derogatory about them. I respected and revered them. The last time I saw the film was at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery [where Johnny Ramone is buried], and more than half the crowd was young women, and I love that. I think between the treatment of Riff and Kate and the Ramones becoming a majorly important rock band — that’s why the film has been around so long. It’s a wonderful thing.