Chicago polymath Jim O’Rourke has been accused of brainwashing School Of Rock actress Miranda Cosgrove into forgetting how to sing.

According to an interview in Scotland’s Daily Record, Cosgrove – now the star of grating kids’ show iCarly – finished her role as School Of Rock band manager Summer Hathaway unable to hold a tune, after some effective anti-vocal coaching from O’Rourke for the 2003 film.

These days Cosgrove, 17, has her singing confidence back, with a hit US album Sparks Fly launching her pop career.

Of her own musical tastes, she told the Record’s John Dingwall (a closet Sonic Youth fan, we suspect): “I really like Gwen Stefani and Madonna. My mum got me into the Rolling Stones and Madonna. I have been listening to Robyn lately. I really like her music.”

O’Rourke’s label Drag City commented gleefully: “We can’t wait to see who Jim brainwashes next!”