Pop Quiz: Tenacious D

Pop Quiz: Tenacious D

Aidin Vaziri | When Tenacious D was asked - eventually - to step in as the closing act for the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival next Sunday after the Beastie Boys were forced to drop out at the last minute, the guys didn't hesitate. In their mind, the substitution seemed like a natural fit. "I think there are more similarities than differences, really, when you put us together," announced Jack Black, who formed the folk-metal duo with his friend Kyle Gass long before he became a big-time Hollywood star. The band may not have been up to much since starring in the feature film "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny" three years ago, but when we spoke to them last week they promised, "The D will be in fine form."


Jack Black and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D
Q: What kind of vibe are you going for, Woodstock or Altamont?
Gass: In Altamont, people were killed and Woodstock is an example of a well-behaved moment in time. I'm going to pick Woodstock.
Black: Yeah. I don't want anyone getting killed.
Q: But what about the Rolling Stones?
Black: What are you talking about? Wasn't Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock? Didn't the Who play Woodstock? Come on. Ang Lee just made a Woodstock movie, not an Altamont movie. Although Woodstock was kind of a bummer if you took the brown acid.
Q: Which drugs would you recommend for the Tenacious D experience?
Gass: I'm going to say some really strong Peet's coffee and a couple of pieces of gum because that's all I do now.
Black: Yeah. I think a harmless J, maybe a couple Heinies, and then call it a night. Come on, kids. Let's not get crazy.
Read more.