caring modesty a new asshole. Tenacious I) describe themselves as ‘the world's greatest rock band'. The D‘s two members. Jack Black (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Kyle Gass (lead guitar and backing vocals). name check among their inspirations Kiss. Dio. Led Zep. Hendrix. The Who. Bach. Mozart. Satan and Meat Loaf (‘for his
theatricality‘). Having subsequently reeled off
the names of most of the rock dinosaur pantheon. Black finally says with weary resignation. ‘We have been called the heavy metal Simon and Garfunkel.
‘But it's not parody.‘ he adds. underlining that hasty qualification with one of his signature
eyebrow-slicing manic stares. ‘We don‘t rip off
other people‘s songs and put new funny lyrics to them. We have our own stuff.‘
'We try to write the best songs ever.‘ says the mellower Gass. not entirely helpfully. ‘and they come out kind of funny . . f
Tenacious I) occupy a unique place in rock music. Black and (iass might be comedy actors who have become comedy musicians. btit this duo is no Spinal Tap. While they do flirt with absurdity (on the love ballad ‘Iiuck Her Gently". for example). The I) also take their music making very seriously. Thus. Black and (iass are visiting London not just to promote their film. Tenacious I) in The Pick ol'l)vsriny. but also to publicise their second album and to set off on a UK-wide tour. The film. which features cameos frotn Dave (irohl. Ronnie James I)io and Meat Loaf. tells the story of the band‘s origins.
‘We've never been in an interview where someone hasn‘t asked how we got together.‘ says (iass. ‘so we thought if we put it in the movie. it would answer the question altogether?
'We start before there was a I).' says Black. ‘You'll see us form the band and go on the journey. the quest. to become the greatest band on earth}
Black and (iass first met in 1985. during rock‘s golden age of bouffant hairdos. Back then. however. these two California-born dudes were part of Tim Robbins” experimental theatre troupe. The Actors‘ (iang. Initially. the pair didn‘t get along. but before long Black was giving the performance-challenged (Bass acting tips and in exchange (iass helped Black graduate from acoustic to electric guitar. They formed The I) in 1994. aired their manically performed mix of folk metal and comedy rock on an HBO cable TV series in I999. and released their eponymous first album in 200]. I! reached number 38 in the UK charts.
All of which begs the question: why did it take The I) 12 years to make a movie? ‘It just had to be perfect.‘ Black says. 'All the planets had to align. We didn’t want to make a stinker. We didn't have a time limit and this was our masterwork. so we took
Wig out and pig
out: Kyle Gass
(far left) Jack
Black in Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, and in
the taste test of destiny (above right)
‘HOW DO YOU GUYS EVER TAKE A POO?’
As famed for their generous girth as their love of hard rock, Tenacious D are just the band to sample the best in
Scottish cuisine. Interview: Henry Northmore
.‘(g I
BATTEHED BLACK PUDDING
Jack Black Now this one I’m scared of. I heard black pudding isjust basically blood sausage.
is there any truth in that?
HN There is a lot oftruth in that. JB That isjust fantastic. It reminds me of a chorizo. a Spanish dessert. Kyle Gass A chorizo. a dessert?! JB I actually feel stronger after eating that. This could be my Popeye spinach.
KG ()h that is fantastic. it makes me feel all warm and runny inside.
HAGGls
JB It looks like bbrrraaaaiiiinnnss and that is not a good sign. (Takes a bite) That isjust the best thing I have ever tasted.
KG Wow!
JB It's a potpourri of flavours: nuts. barley. meat. love. I want you to try this Kyle.
KG Mmmn delicious.
KG Way to go Scotland.
So far. so good.
JB So far. so golden.
SCOTCH PANCAKE
KG It’s kind of a cross between a pancake and a muffin.
JB That is soooo good. you don't even need syrup.
KG I‘d like a fried egg on top and some maple syrup.
THE SCOTCH PIE
JB Don’t tell me what‘s in it. just let me taste it. Mmmmmn. smooth consistency. it tastes good. it‘s got a little spice
to it. In a word. delicious-o. KG Uh huh. it reminds me of baked Alaska.
EL'S KITCHEN
TENACIOUS D
JB Is that a fish? It looks like apple pie bttt it tastes like home.
POTATO SCONE
JB Oh that’s good. The potato scone tastes good in my mouth — and you can print that.
KG But how does it feel in your stomach?
JB It feels very good in my stomach. I‘ll tell you the rest tomorrow.
SCONE
JB That’s no normal scone. KG That‘s the kinda thing you would eat before going into battle against the English; you feel fortified and ready to kill.
TABLET
KG That looks like a piece of pannesan cheese or butter.
JB I‘m guessing this is cheese. (Takes a bite) Wow! That is good cheese, its pure sugar. I could eat a brick ofthat.
SHORTBHEAD
KG It's really good. It's really a tragedy that we don‘t have many Scotch restaurants in the United States. besides MeDonalds.
IR" BRU
JB What‘s the magic ingredient? HN Sugar and caffeine.
JB This tastes good in my mouth. but there is no fruits or vegetables. How do you guys ever take a poo? KG Do you have Weetabix? That might help. There‘s an American product. Metamucil. Write to your House of Lords and get them to bring it over.
10-30 Nov ?()()(3 THE LIST 15