The series makes many references to classic rock music, its title being taken from T.Rex's song "20th Century Boy", as well as a number of manga and anime from the 1960s-1970s.
Paul Quigley also acted in the lead role in two promo videos for Bronze Records' heavy metal band Girlschool in their singles "20th Century Boy", a cover version of the Marc Bolan hit of the 1970s, and "Play Dirty", which both featured on Girlschool's 1983 album of the same name, produced by Slade's Noddy Holder and Jimmy Lea.
Together they produced Girlschool's cover of the T-Rex song "20th Century Boy" and the album "Play Dirty" which featured two Slade tracks "Burning in the Heat of Love" and "High and Dry".
The coffin was carried out of the church to the strains of Marc Bolan's "20th Century Boy".
Also featured in the film are Frédéric Chopin's "Romance-Larghetto" from his first piano concerto, performed by Arthur Rubinstein, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Rondo Alla Turca" from his Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, performed by Wilhelm Kempff, Wojciech Kilar's "Father Kolbe's Preaching" performed by the Orchestra Philharmonique National de Pologne and "20th Century Boy" performed by rockabilly band The Big Six.
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