75-515: Kyle Richard Gass (born July 14, 1960) is an American musician, singer and actor, best known for being a founding member of Tenacious D , a Grammy -winning comedy band . He is also a member of Trainwreck and the Kyle Gass Band . Kyle Richard Gass was born in Walnut Creek, California on July 14, 1960, and he has two brothers. At 8 years old, he learned to play guitar and flute. Then at 28, he
150-496: A 'Blue Series' 7" Single , featuring the track "Don't Blow It, Kage". The record was produced by Jack White . On October 27, 2020, Tenacious D released a cover of 'Time Warp' , available to stream online and also released on 7" vinyl. The song included a music video featuring a string of celebrity guests. The single was used to promote Rock the Vote , which encourages Americans to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election . All proceeds from
225-527: A 1988 7up Gold commercial, and made his film debut two years later in Brain Dead . He made a cameo appearance in the Seinfeld episode " The Abstinence " in 1996, in a 1999 episode of the television show Fear of a Punk Planet , and in a 2003 episode of Friends , " The One With The Mugging " (S9 E15), as Phoebe's street friend Lowell. He appeared in music videos for Good Charlotte 's 2002 song "Lifestyles of
300-455: A hotbed for upcoming bands, so much so that in attendance was David Cross , who invited Black and Gass to open for the live version of Mr. Show . Black was cast on Mr. Show in 1995. Tenacious D continued to generate momentum on the Los Angeles music scene, notably performing headline shows at Al's Bar, Pedro's, Largo and The Actors' Gang studio. Maynard James Keenan , lead vocalist of
375-626: A number of films himself, and he has provided voices for animated films. In 2006, Tenacious D starred in their own film, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny , in which they set out to become the greatest rock band in the world, by means of a guitar pick imbued with mystic powers and crafted from the tooth of Beelzebub. The duo contributed to the Annie Award -winning martial arts cartoon film Kung Fu Panda with Black as Po and Gass as KG Shaw. Their cover of Britney Spears ' " ...Baby One More Time "
450-402: A sequel to Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny , Black stated that the band had "found a loophole with the internet and animated shorts. That’s the world we’re looking to dive into, and not just for money, mainly for art." The band would mention later on in that year that they may make an Internet series "exclusive to YouTube." The project was a fantasy for Black and Gass for a few years, until
525-544: A short song in the film. The two wrote the song "5 Needs", and this was their first on-screen appearance as Tenacious D. In 1997, Tenacious D had become a popular act on the Los Angeles music scene and would perform residencies at The Viper Room. Pete Stahl , the vocalist of the band Scream , worked at The Viper Room at the time and became a fan of Black and Gass. Stahl invited friend Dave Grohl to come and visit The Viper Room to see Tenacious D, though Grohl initially did not want to go. Grohl changed his stance and went to see
600-460: A terrible mistake". He deleted his apology later that week. At the premiere for the film Borderlands on August 6, Black said he and Gass remained friends and would return "when it feels right". Tenacious D is a comedy rock band, with the majority of their songs played on acoustic guitars , and a heavy reliance on power chords . Satire and comedy are a major aspect of Tenacious D's lyrical content. Gass said of their approach: "I'd love to do
675-557: A terrible mistake". He was subsequently dropped by his longtime talent agent, Michael Greene. Gass deleted the apology two days later. with Tenacious D with Trainwreck with Kyle Gass Band Tenacious D Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles in 1994 by the actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass . Their music showcases Black's theatrical vocal delivery and Gass' acoustic guitar playing. Critics have described their fusion of vulgar absurdist comedy with rock music as "mock rock". Their songs discuss
750-485: A wish. Gass responded, "Don't miss Trump next time," referring to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump the day before. Two days later, Black wrote on social media that he was "blindsided" by Gass' comment and that he did not condone hate speech or political violence "in any form". Tenacious D canceled the rest of their world tour, and Black said their "creative plans are on hold". Gass apologized on social media, calling his comment "highly inappropriate, dangerous and
825-456: A year due to Black being cast in Peter Jackson 's big budget remake of King Kong . In December 2004, Black and Gass performed some songs from the upcoming soundtrack of the film whilst touring Australia, and announced that the film would include cameos from Meat Loaf and Ronnie James Dio. Principal photography for Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny commenced in the spring of 2005, with
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#1732872908923900-508: Is coming out in October". He went to state that "I don't know where you will be able to see it, but we have decided it's happening and it's coming out. Rocktober". Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto was released as six individual episodes on YouTube uploaded from September 28 to November 2, with Columbia Records releasing Post-Apocalypto on the last day. At a live screening of
975-501: Is featured in the end credits of the fourth film of the series . John Konesky John S. Konesky (born November 19, 1980) is an American guitarist and record producer, best known for his role as the lead electric guitar player for Tenacious D . Konesky was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio , where he performed in a band with friend John Spiker . Through a mutual friend, he and Spiker met Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass , who
1050-498: The Billboard 200 on October 13, 2001. Although it received mixed reviews, it went on to garner acclaim and by November 2005 had been certified platinum in the US. Entertainment Weekly described it "hilarious", and "no mere comedy record". AllMusic wrote that it "rocks so damn hard", but lamented the absence of some of the songs from the television show. Flak Magazine criticised
1125-656: The Star Wars [ Death Star ]," adding that "It's kind of sci-fi, doomsday rock." Jack Black also stated on the Late Show with David Letterman that he had an idea for a song called "Rize of the Fenix", which he described as a "rise from the ashes" workout song similar to " Eye of the Tiger ". He performed a vocal sample of the song along with keyboards. Gass hinted that the band's third album might be called Tenacious D 3-D , reasoning that "It's
1200-568: The Sunday Times on October 29, 2006, Black stated that Gass was the youngest graduate of Juilliard. On May 13, 2008, Gass was a phone-in guest on the Adam Carolla Show . When Adam Carolla asked him "... And did you go to Juilliard?" Kyle replied "I didn't. I—you know, I made that up as a joke," he continued, "and I thought it would be hilarious, and then I've been hearing about it ever since. Apologies to Juilliard." In 2017, Gass performed
1275-486: The 57th Annual Grammy Awards . In 2018, the band began independently releasing an animated hand-drawn web series, Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto , and released the album Post-Apocalypto . In July 2024, Tenacious D cancelled their world tour and put their work on hold after Gass made a controversial on-stage joke about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump . Jack Black and Kyle Gass met in Los Angeles in 1986 as members of The Actors' Gang theater troupe. There
1350-597: The Donald Trump presidential campaign inspired them to write a post-apocalyptic comedy in 2016. In 2018, before performing at Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in Mexico City, the band entered the stage to a short studio snippet of their new song "Post-Apocalypto Theme". The night after this, Black asked the audience at Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia whether they had seen The Pick of Destiny and that "part 2
1425-552: The Spicy Meatball Tour by debuting a new song, " Video Games ", at Shaky Knees Music Festival . "Video Games" premiered online on May 11, via a 3D animated music video directed by Adam Paloian and his production company Pinreel Inc., which was the band's first new music video since 2012. In early June, it was announced that the tour would continue in the fall, starting with a show in Charlotte, North Carolina . In February 2024,
1500-773: The "couch potato" in The Cable Guy (1996), and as an inept author of children's books in the comedy Elf (2003). He had a cameo role as a singing karaoke cowboy in Wild Hogs (2007). In 2008 he played the porn director in Extreme Movie , Walrus Boy in Wieners , the dirty trucker in the men's room in Sex Drive , and Decatur Doublewide in Lower Learning . In Tenacious D, Gass plays lead guitar and sings backing vocals, and also plays
1575-580: The Daily Show on November 30, 2006, Black admitted the film had "bombed", but said that DVD sales had shown that the film picked up a cult audience. Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times said that the film "might best be enjoyed in an enhanced state of consciousness, a herbal supplement, and we aren't talking ginkgo biloba ." Stephen Rae of The Philadelphia Inquirer said that the frequent drug-use in
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#17328729089231650-605: The Rich and Famous" , the Foo Fighters ' 1999 song " Learn to Fly ", and I Prevail 's 2017 song "Already Dead". Gass has played small roles in many of Jack Black's films ( Year One , Kung Fu Panda , Shallow Hal , Saving Silverman , The Cable Guy , etc.). He starred with Jack Black in the movie Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny . Gass appeared in Jacob's Ladder (1990), appeared as
1725-623: The UK, Sweden and Australia. In 2003, the band released The Complete Master Works , a concert DVD, which was certified platinum . In 2006, the duo starred in a film, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny , and released the soundtrack as their second album, The Pick of Destiny . The film was a box office failure and received mixed reviews, but the Pick of Destiny tour was successful, with performances at venues including Madison Square Garden . Following years of sporadic festival dates and special appearances,
1800-469: The US and Canada and a total of US$ 13,426,450 worldwide, falling well short of its US$ 20 million production budget and US$ 40 million in estimated marketing costs. Financially, it is regarded as a box-office bomb . The soundtrack reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 in the US as well as topping the iTunes chart, and #10 in the UK. The film was released globally on DVD on February 27, 2007. In an interview on
1875-417: The album would likely be released in 2010, but on other occasions had mentioned the year 2012. In early 2008, Black announced that the band was working on a new album, and a DVD titled The Complete Masterworks Part 2 . The DVD was released later that year, and included a documentary of their world tour entitled D Tour: A Tenacious Documentary . The film focuses on the tour Tenacious D made in support of
1950-436: The apartment and the two spent three days crafting the song. When it was done, Gass said they "knew they had something". The song made the duo realize their comedic potential. The duo briefly called themselves Responsive Chord while rehearsing the comedy act. The band's first on-stage appearance was at Highland Grounds in Los Angeles, a coffee shop, where they performed as The Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon's Mischief, though
2025-477: The audience to vote for their name. Black and Gass gave them the choice between Pets or Meat, Balboa's Biblical Theater and the Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon's Mischief (Gass' favorite). "Tenacious D"—a basketball term used by commentators to describe robust defensive positioning in basketball — did not get the majority of votes, but according to Black "we forced it through". The venue had become
2100-544: The band Tool , had also met Cross on the Los Angeles scene, and therefore had also become involved in Mr. Show . Keenan invited Black and Gass to support three Californian Tool concerts in December 1995. Tool was the first large act that Tenacious D were a support act for. Black had previously attended UCLA with director Jason Bloom ; therefore, when Bloom was made the director of 1996's Bio-Dome , Black and Gass were invited to perform
2175-582: The band announced their first tour of Australia and New Zealand in eleven years, to be held in July 2024. Later in June, the band announced a tour called 'Rock D Vote' performing in five swing states ahead of the 2024 United States elections . On July 14, 2024, Tenacious D celebrated Gass' birthday during their performance at the ICC Sydney Theater . A birthday cake was brought out and Black encouraged Gass to make
2250-411: The band lost money on the tour due to the cost of touring with a full band for the first time. In November 2006, Black expressed wishes to take a year-long break from acting, though Gass hinted a desire for Tenacious D to end at their current highpoint. However, Black confirmed that a third album would be recorded by announcing that a new song has been written for it entitled "Deth Star". He said that
2325-454: The band perform a couple of weeks later and thoroughly enjoyed it. This would start a relationship between Grohl, Black and Gass. Tenacious D recorded their songs "Tribute", "Kyle Quit the Band", "Krishna" and "History" and released them in a demo tape called Tenacious Demo in the late 1990s with Andrew Gross. They distributed it to various record companies until HBO offered them a TV show based on
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2400-565: The band released their third album, Rize of the Fenix , in 2012, making light of The Pick of Destiny's commercial failure. In 2013, Tenacious D hosted the comedy music festival Festival Supreme in LA. In 2014, they featured on Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life , a compilation album to raise funds for cancer. Their cover of " The Last in Line " won the Grammy Award for best heavy metal performance at
2475-466: The band was working on their next album, claiming it is "a very big idea that we've been working on for years". Black predicted the album will be released in 2024. On December 7, 2021, Tenacious D announced a Summer 2022 tour of the United States. This tour was a belated 20th anniversary celebration of their debut album. In March 2022, the tour was extended into the fall. On May 6, 2023, the duo began
2550-454: The band's first album. Rolling Stone comments that the soundtrack "never quite takes off". It criticises the reliance the album makes on a knowledge of the film, and some songs' existence only to "advance the plot". It summarizes by saying the album is inferior to the band's previous effort. Allmusic also describes the follow-up as less "satisfying" than Tenacious D , noting that the songs feel like "narrative filler". Blender continues
2625-502: The band's first appearance at New York City 's Madison Square Garden . Unlike other tours, this one featured a full backing band. Konesky and Spiker resumed their roles from the album, and Brooks Wackerman was added as drummer. Each member used a pseudonym; Konesky as the Antichrist , Spiker as Charlie Chaplin , and Wackerman as Colonel Sanders . JR Reed also toured as Satan, as well as reprising his role as "Lee". Black has said that
2700-557: The bands that are the fucking hardest rocking are like, 'We'll fucking kick your ass, dude... with our rock.'" Russell Brand , All Shall Perish , The Lonely Island , and Kanye West have in turn been influenced by the work of Tenacious D. Black and Gass first performed together in Bio-Dome (1996), followed by The Cable Guy (1996), Bongwater (1997), Cradle Will Rock (1999), Saving Silverman (2001), Shallow Hal (2001), and Year One (2009). Black has starred in
2775-408: The best songs ever, and they come out kind of funny..." — Kyle Gass on the band's humorous lyrics. Gass has described Tenacious D's comic assertion that they are the best band as being "ridiculous because it's a matter of opinion". Black characterizes Tenacious D's comic nature as an antidote to "the masculinity of rock", adding "There's also something funny about the macho-ness of rock. Like
2850-485: The box-office failure of The Pick of Destiny , KG's subsequent breakdown and incarceration in "an institution", and Jack's embracing of an indulgent Hollywood lifestyle. The film shows a deranged Kyle escaping the facility and attempting to kill Jack and then himself, before they each realize their importance to each other and revive the band. They produce a new album in 75 minutes in the studio, described as "awful", but try again and emerge with another new album, described at
2925-439: The cancellation of the ongoing Tenacious D Australian tour after Gass said "Don't miss Trump next time" on stage two days earlier, referencing the attempted assassination of Donald Trump . Gass made the comment after being presented with a birthday cake and asked to "make a wish". This also put all future creative plans for the band on hold. Gass apologized on social media, calling his comment "highly inappropriate, dangerous and
3000-406: The criticism of the songs being plot devices calling them "plot-nudging song-sketches". The Guardian views the album more positively, describing the album as a meeting of "old school riffology" and "schoolboy humour". To coincide with the release of their new film and album, Tenacious D embarked on The Pick of Destiny Tour , of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. This tour included
3075-418: The duo's eponymous debut album that would be released the following year. There is little known about the script, other than it being based around the band playing coffee shops and Black becoming fascinated by Atlantis . Black and Gass both fall in love with a girl called Simmeon who has written books about the fictional island. They later meet Ronnie James Dio, and are sent on a road trip to Miami. This concept
Kyle Gass - Misplaced Pages Continue
3150-474: The duo's purported musical and sexual prowess, their friendship and cannabis usage, in a style critics have compared with the storyteller-style lyrics of rock opera . Prior to the release of the 2001 debut album Tenacious D , the duo had a three-episode TV series released on HBO between 1997–2000. The series came about after they met David Cross on the LA music scene and Black featured in episodes of Mr. Show with Bob and David . The band befriended
3225-506: The end of the film as "the greatest album recorded by anyone, ever". The film features numerous cameo appearances, including Maria Menounos , Val Kilmer , Dave Grohl, Yoshiki Hayashi , Josh Groban , Richard Ghagan, Mike White , Tim Robbins and Jimmy Kimmel . The band released the album on April 28, 2012, in its entirety on their SoundCloud account. Rize of the Fenix was officially released on May 15, 2012, with mostly positive reviews from music critics. In June 2012, when asked about
3300-451: The film and soundtrack and the consequences of their film's poor showing at the box office. Kyle has commented that the new album only has "one to one and a half" songs written for it, and would like to write between twelve and fifteen. Music magazine Billboard quoted Black as revealing that "We just laid down a hot [...] we're calling it the bomb track. It's a very powerful recording called "Deth Starr" [...] so it has nothing to do with
3375-444: The film gives "the term potty humor a new meaning." Michael Phillips criticized the frequency of the drug-use by saying: "This may be the problem. Pot rarely helped anybody's comic timing." Stephen Holden of The New York Times suggested that the film could be viewed as a "jolly rock 'n' roll comedy", but he also described the progression of the film as being a "garish mess." The soundtrack received less favourable reviews than for
3450-408: The film were in attendance; including Ronnie James Dio, Dave Grohl , and Ben Stiller . The soundtrack for the production was called The Pick of Destiny and featured a returning John King (of The Dust Brothers) producing it. It was released on November 14, 2006, through Epic Records . The film was released worldwide on November 22. Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny grossed US$ 8,334,575 in
3525-497: The first was aired that year; the final two episodes did not air until the summer of 2000. According to Gass, the series was cancelled after HBO requested ten episodes with the stipulation that he and Black would have to relinquish their role as executive producers, and only write songs. After the series aired, the band continued to perform live. At a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, they met Dave Grohl , who remarked that he
3600-474: The lyric "As long as there's a record deal, we'll always be friends". Their short song structures have been described as punk rock-inspired. Tenacious D also employs the technique of deliberate backmasking on "Karate", a technique employed by other metal bands like Slayer , who recorded a message in Hell Awaits . Black has said that the first song he enjoyed was ABBA 's " Take a Chance on Me ". His style
3675-467: The musician Dave Grohl , which began a relationship between Grohl's band Foo Fighters and Tenacious D. Towards the end of the 1990s, the duo supported large rock acts such as Weezer , Pearl Jam , Tool , and Beck . In 2000, they signed with Epic Records and the year after they released Tenacious D, their debut album featuring a full band, including Grohl. Their second single, " Tribute ", achieved cult status , contributing to their popularity in
3750-531: The producers the Dust Brothers . It was backed by a full band, consisting of Grohl on drums and guitar, keyboardist Page McConnell of Phish , guitarist Warren Fitzgerald of The Vandals , and bassist Steven Shane McDonald of Redd Kross . According to Black, they chose to use a band because "no one's ever heard us with a band". The majority of songs on the album were performed previously on their short-lived television series. Tencious D reached No. 33 on
3825-482: The production finishing later that summer. The film held its first test screening to the press in October 2005. The film held two re-shoots in the summer of 2006 and according to Lynch, every crew member from the principal photography came back because they "had such a fun time working on set". Black also stated that the filming on this production was "the most fun I've ever had filming a movie". "A lot of enthusiastic stoners were like, 'Yeah, du-u-u-de! Just saw it!' I
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#17328729089233900-416: The production was technically part of a variety event for The Actor's Gang . In the audience was Harry Shearer , which was significant as Black and Gass both admired This is Spinal Tap . The band's first performance at an actual music event was a short appearance at Al's Bar in the summer of 1994, opening for The Abe Lincoln Story. They performed "Tribute", still their only song at the time, and asked
3975-476: The release of new material "at the end of 2011". In terms of lyrical themes for the new songs, Black noted that "We're gonna be talking about love, there are gonna be some songs about sex and there's gonna be songs about food". In a May 2011 interview at Attack of the Show , Black announced that three songs on their upcoming album would be named "Rize of the Fenix", distinguishable by either letter or number. Also in
4050-532: The role of Black's comic foil in most of their comedy routines. While appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on November 15, 2006, Gass claimed to have been the youngest graduate of the Juilliard School of Music with a degree in classical guitar studies at the age of 13. Juilliard did not have a guitar program in 1973, but began its graduate level guitar program in 1989 under Sharon Isbin, and its undergraduate program in 2007. Earlier, in an article in
4125-510: The same interview, he named another song called "Señorita". In February 2012 it was revealed that the title of the album would in fact be spelled Rize of the Fenix and would be released on May 15, 2012. On March 26, 2012, a 6-minute film was uploaded to the Tenacious D channel on YouTube. The mockumentary, titled 'Tenacious D - To Be the Best', documents the uncertain future Tenacious D faced after
4200-408: The script and being producers on the production. There was also speculation that Red Hour Productions would produce the film, which was later confirmed. Later in 2003, Black announced the title as Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny and that the script was about the band's search for a sacred guitar pick. Filming had been expected to take place by the end of 2003; however, it was delayed by almost
4275-474: The series at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in New York, Black stated that the two would attempt to speed up their album cycle, jokingly commenting about the duo's age if the current speed continues and their record obligation with Sony. Black stated that the fifth album will take time, and "most likely be released [sometime] after 2020". On November 29, 2019, for Record Store Day's Black Friday , Tenacious D released
4350-429: The skits between songs, describing them as "distracting" and a "nuisance". The Independent found the album was full of "swearing and scatology" and was "bereft of even the slightest skidmark of humor". The first single, " Tribute ", is a tribute to the "greatest song in the world", which Tenacious D claim they performed to save their souls from a demon. The music video, directed by Liam Lynch , achieved success and
4425-680: The song "Penelope" for Amazon Music 's "Love Me Not" compilation album. In 2021, Gass announced his first solo tour "Kyle Gass Must Save the World", however it was later cancelled. Gass starred in a web show, Guitarings , with John Konesky and currently hosts the Did We Do It podcast with Kevin Weisman . He has appeared as a contestant on the TV game show Sale of the Century . On July 16, 2024, Jack Black announced
4500-441: The song enough to ask the band to appear in the music video for his song, "Push". An EP entitled D Fun Pak was released in 2002. It featured a skit and acoustic versions of " Jesus Ranch " and "Kyle Quit The Band", as well as a megamix by Mocean Worker . The Complete Masterworks , a music DVD featuring the entire run of their TV series, music videos, and a live performance from London 's Brixton Academy recorded in 2002,
4575-463: The song, though they occasionally sing it during interviews when telling their story. Their second song came about when Black was listening to the Metallica song " One " and told Gass that it was "the best song in the world". Gass told Black that they could not write the best song in the world, but Black put a twist on it and said they could "write a tribute". Gass played an A-minor chord on his guitar at
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#17328729089234650-423: The straight music thing, but that's kind of against our mission, which is to rebel against the serious singer-songwriter mentality." Their songs evoke heavy metal clichés of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest . In particular, the song "Dio" pokes fun at the idea of a torch being passed. Songs like "Friendship" parody the lack of real friendship, as well as point out the [bromance] traits in rock groups with
4725-421: The tape and Black's work on Mr. Show . Cross and his Mr. Show co-writer Bob Odenkirk continued his involvement with Tenacious D by producing three half-hour shows based on the band. The series, entitled Tenacious D , premiered on HBO in 1997, immediately following an episode of Mr. Show . While a total of three episodes consisting of two shorts each, ten to twelve minutes in length, were produced, only
4800-440: The third record, so it should probably be 'Tenacious 3-D.' There's going to be a '3' and a 'D,' so you have to connect them." Dave Grohl has confirmed that he will appear as the drummer on the album, after performing on both Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny . In an interview with Spinner.com in December 2010, Black revealed that the band was "about halfway through the writing process" for its new album, telling fans to expect
4875-554: The vinyl sales of the song were donated to Rock the Vote. On July 1, 2021, Tenacious D released a tribute to the Beatles in which they cover and mashup two songs from Abbey Road : " You Never Give Me Your Money " and " The End ." Similar to "Time Warp", the limited-edition 7" supported charity—this time with all the proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders . In an interview with Variety published in September 2021, Black stated that
4950-553: Was 23-years-old, so would regularly visit Gass' Cochran Avenue studio apartment in the deal that Gass would teach Black to play guitar in return for food, mainly taco deals from the fast-food chain Jack in the Box . They also collaborated together in productions at The Actor's Gang. Black and Gass eventually wrote their first song after Black was dumped by a girlfriend called Melissa, a non-comedic song. The two said they since feel embarrassed about
5025-417: Was distinctly shaped by "big dinosaurs of rock" such as The Who and Led Zeppelin . In addition, Gass lists his influences as being Tom Waits and Tony Robbins . The band claimed that the inspiration for the song "Tribute" came after Black played Metallica 's " One " for Gass, describing it as "the best song in the world", leading to an attempt to write an even better song, themselves. "We try to write
5100-457: Was impressed with their performance; this led to their cameo in the Foo Fighters' " Learn to Fly " music video. They began to open for high-profile acts including Beck , Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters. In May 2000, Tenacious D signed to Epic Records . As Black's profile increased due to his roles in films such as High Fidelity , the band recorded their first album, Tenacious D , with
5175-585: Was initially animosity between the two, as Gass was the main musician for The Actor's Gang and "felt threatened by Black". The Actor's Gang travelled to Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1989; starring in Tim Robbins ' and Adam Simon 's play Carnage . The two became friends during this trip, and climbed Arthur's Seat together on a day-off. On return from the trip, Black and Gass bonded over music. Black did not learn guitar until he
5250-458: Was later scrapped. At some point prior to 2003, the band were in negotiations with the British studio Working Title Films to write and distribute a Tenacious D film, but Black and Gass were not satisfied with the writers' ideas. In February 2003, it was announced that the band had signed with New Line Cinema to create a film, with Liam Lynch as the director, and Black, Gass and Lynch writing
5325-524: Was like, 'Where were you when the movie came out?' 'Sorry, dude, I was hi-i-i-gh!'" — Jack Black on The Pick of Destiny's disappointing box-office performance. The film held its British premiere on November 1, 2006, at the Vue West End cinema in London, England. The film's domestic premiere was held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on November 9, 2006. Many of the actors who had cameos in
5400-691: Was recruiting musicians for his Trainwreck project. In 2003, Konesky relocated to Los Angeles to become the electric guitarist for Trainwreck. In 2005, Konesky and Spiker performed on the second Tenacious D album The Pick of Destiny and would then perform live on The Pick of Destiny Tour , making them (alongside drummer Brooks Wackerman ) additional live members of Tenacious D. In 2010, Trainwreck split up, which led him and Gass to form Kyle Gass Band . In 2012, Konesky formed country band Wynchester alongside Kyle Gass Band lead vocalist, Mike Bray, whom released their debut record in 2018 and toured with Tenacious D. In 2009, Konesky and Gass worked together on
5475-451: Was released on November 9, 2003. Black and Gass had dreamt of producing a Tenacious D motion-picture since forming the band; archived footage of banter at an early Tenacious D show records Black as saying "a movie - that would be the pinnacle". The duo conceptualized numerous ideas for a film, though the first actual known draft of a script was published on November 7, 2000. The script was based on many songs that would later be released on
5550-521: Was voted the fifth best music video ever by Kerrang! readers. This was followed by the second single, " Wonderboy ", with a video directed by Spike Jonze . A third video, an animation depicting Black and Gass as cherubs, was made for " Fuck Her Gently ", directed by the Ren and Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi . The album also included "Dio", a song written as a tribute to rock singer Ronnie James Dio , which mocked him somewhat for being too old. Dio liked
5625-444: Was working on his first television appearance with 7up. He attended Las Lomas High School alongside notable alumnus Greg Williams, where he played flute in the marching band, graduating in 1978. He studied acting at UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television , where he met Tim Robbins . In 1982, he joined Robbins' The Actors' Gang and in the early 1990s met and befriended Jack Black in the group. Gass first appeared on-screen in
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