Tenacious D's music showcases Black's theatrical vocal delivery and Gass' acoustic guitar playing abilities. Their songs discuss the duo's purported musical and sexual prowess, as well as their friendship and cannabis usage. Their debut self-titled album features absurd and humorous sketches. Music critics have compared the storyteller-style lyrics of their songs to lyrics of rock opera. In addition, they have since recorded two albums, and starred in their own movie, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.
Black and Gass, at the time respectively aged 16 and 24, met in Edinburgh, Scotland during the Edinburgh Fringe of 1989. Both were members of the Los Angeles-based theatre troupe, The Actors' Gang which was performing Tim Robbins and Adam Simon's play Carnage. Initially Black and Gass did not get on as Gass felt threatened by Black - as he was the main musician for the Actor's gang - but they eventually worked out their differences, and agreed to form a band. Gass taught Black to play guitar, in exchange for Black's helping him with his acting.
Initially, Black and Kyle covered songs by Bobby McFerrin. Later they chose the name "Tenacious D" - a name derived from a term used by sports commentator Marv Albert about the tenacious defense of the NBA's New York Knicks - decided by the audience of the band's first live show, in 1994 at the now defunct Al's Bar. Other possibilities had included "Pets or Meat", "Balboa’s Biblical Theatre" and "The Axe Lords Featuring Gorgazon’s Mischief", which Gass described as being his personal favorite. In attendance was David Cross who later cast Tenacious D in his sketch comedy television series, Mr. Show.
TV series:
David Cross, with the writer Bob Odenkirk from Mr Show, continued his involvement with Tenacious D by producing three half-hour shows based on the band. The series, entitled Tenacious D, premiered in 1997, immediately following an episode of Mr. Show. While a total of three episodes consisting of two shorts, ten to twelve minutes in length, were produced, only the first was aired that year; the final two episodes did not air until the summer of 2000. The series was canceled after, according to Gass, HBO offered Tenacious D ten episodes, but in doing so, they would have to relinquish their role as executive producers. Gass and Black decided to make a movie instead. Many songs that eventually were included on the band's first album were first featured on the show, though the episodes also contain songs that remain unreleased.
The six shorts were titled "The Search for Inspirado", "Angel in Disguise", "Death of a Dream", "The Greatest Song in the World", "The Fan", and "Road Gig". After the series aired, the band continued to perform. At a show at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, they met Dave Grohl, who remarked that he was impressed with their performance; this led to their cameo in the Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly" music video. The popularity of Tenacious D further increased as they began to open for high profile acts, including Beck, Pearl Jam, and Foo Fighters.
Lyrics and themes:
The Devil CardSatire and comedy are a major aspect of Tenacious D's lyrical content. Gass said of their approach: "I'd love to do 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 "Now it's time for him to pass the torch" Songs like "Friendship" parody the lack of real friendship in rock groups with the lyric "As long as there's a record deal, we'll always be friends" Other songs cover the topic of sex; "Kielbasa" discusses anal sex, while "Double Team" boasts of the duos sexual prowess. Tenacious D also employs the technique of deliberate backmasking on "Karate", a technique synonymous with bands like Slayer, who recorded a message in Hell Awaits.. The band's imagery also continues the theme of evil. The front cover of Tenacious D features Black and Gass standing naked below the Devil. Black described it as he and Gass being "schooled by Satan". The pose is similar to that shown on the Devil tarot card. The Devil card signifies sexual desire, uncontrolled energy, vice and addiction.
Tenacious D's music has been criticized for its frequent use of profanity. In addition, other critics have described the band as having exhausted the joke of "cock rock".
Influences:
Black has said that the first song he enjoyed was ABBA's "Take a Chance on Me". He attributes influences from Dio, Black Sabbath, Meat Loaf and Bobby McFerrin. Gass describes their influences as being derived from "big dinosaurs of rock" such as Led Zeppelin. In addition, Gass lists his influences as being Tom Waits, Tony Hawk 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 a failed attempt to themselves write an even better song.
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 the bands that are the fucking hardest rocking are like, 'We'll fucking kick your ass, dude... with our rock.'"
Tenacious D is featured in the highly anticipated video game "Guitar Hero III". `The Metal' is prominently featured in the game's trailer released at E3 2007.
Tenacious D also did backing vocals on the Styx song "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye". It can be found on the album "Cyclorama" from 2003.
They were included in Rock Band 2 with their song "Master Exploder".
In October of 2009 Jack Black starred as roadie Eddie Riggs in the open world video game Brütal Legend by Double Fine Productions on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.
Explosivo
Tenacious D Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then we gonna ride,
Gonna smoke some weed.
Climb upon my big-ass steed,
And ride, ride, ride.
Weeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee,
What's the name of the song,
Don't know what it's about,
But it's good to go.
What's the name of my girlfriend
I don't know,
But she's built like the shit
And she's good to go, go,
She's good to go,
She's good to go.
We are fuelled by Satan,
Yes we're schooled by Satan.
Fueled by Satan!
Writin' those tasty riffs
Just as fast as we can.
Schooled by Satan!
We were the inventors
Of the cosmic astral code.
We've come to blow you away,
We've come to blow your nose.
We've come to fuckin' blow,
We've come to blow the show.
We've come to fuckin' blow,
You know it, you know it!
Weeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee,
What's the name of the song,
Explosivo!
Don't know what it's about
But it's good to riddle-ah!
I am not one of you. I come from an ancient time.
I am known as The Kicker of Elves. I am also known as The Angel Crusher!
Explosivo.
The song "Explosivo" by Tenacious D is a humorous and irreverent rock song that celebrates the band's association with Satan and their ability to create audacious and catchy riffs. The lyrics begin with a call to ride on a big-ass steed and get high, setting the stage for a wild and uninhibited ride. The chorus asks the listener what the name of the song is, to which the band replies, "Explosivo!" in a burst of energy.
The second verse confirms the band's devotion to Satan, claiming that they are fueled and schooled by the devil himself. The band takes credit for creating the cosmic astral code, and they promise to blow their audience away with their music. The bridge section features a spoken-word interlude where the singer claims to come from an ancient time and offers two alternative aliases: "The Kicker of Elves" and "The Angel Crusher."
Overall, the song is an energetic and amusing homage to rock and roll excess, and it showcases the band's irreverent sense of humor and bold musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
Climb upon my faithful steed,
Please mount my trusty horse
Then we gonna ride,
We're going to take a journey
Gonna smoke some weed.
We will indulge in the smoking of marijuana
Climb upon my big-ass steed,
Join me on this massive horse
And ride, ride, ride.
Let's ride to our destination with haste
Weeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eee-eee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee-eeeee,
High-pitched screaming
What's the name of the song,
May I know the title of this piece of music?
Explosivo!
It is titled Explosive!
Don't know what it's about,
I am not aware of its meaning
But it's good to go.
It is still enjoyable to listen to
What's the name of my girlfriend
May I know the name of my significant other?
I don't know,
I am uncertain about her name
But she's built like the shit
She is very attractive
And she's good to go, go,
She is willing and ready for any activities
She's good to go,
She is absolutely prepared
She's good to go.
She is ready
We are fuelled by Satan,
Our inspiration is the embodiment of evil
Yes we're schooled by Satan.
We learn from the Devil himself
Fueled by Satan!
Powered by evil!
Writin' those tasty riffs
Composing pleasurable musical motifs
Just as fast as we can.
At the maximum speed, we can create
Schooled by Satan!
Educated by Hell!
We were the inventors
We were the creators
Of the cosmic astral code.
We designed the underlying principles of the universe
We've come to blow you away,
We have arrived to amaze you
We've come to blow your nose.
We are here to excite and impress you
We've come to fuckin' blow,
We have come to perform with enormous energy
We've come to blow the show.
We are here to entertain you to the fullest extent
You know it, you know it!
You are aware, no doubt!
What's the name of the song,
May I know the title of this piece of music?
Explosivo!
It is titled Explosive!
Don't know what it's about
I am not aware of its meaning
But it's good to riddle-ah!
It is pleasurable to listen to, even if it is cryptic
I am not one of you. I come from an ancient time.
I am not from this era, I come from a time long ago
I am known as The Kicker of Elves.
It is my name, and I am proficient at kicking magical creatures
I am also known as The Angel Crusher!
I have another appellation, The Destroyer of Angels
Explosivo.
Explosive!
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kyle Richard Gass, Thomas Jacob Black
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
typhoonthunder
Lyrics:
Climb upon my faithful steed
Then we gonna ride, gonna smoke some weed
Climb upon my big-ass steed
And ride, ride, ride
What's the name of the song? Explosivo!
Don't know what it's about, but it's good to go
What's the name of my girlfriend? I don't know,
But she's built like the shit and she's good to go, go, She's good to go, She's good to go
We are fueled by Satan, yes we're schooled by Satan
Fueled by Satan
Writin' those tasty riffs just as fast as we can
Schooled by Satan
We were the inventors of the cosmic astral code
We've come to blow you away, we've come to blow your nose
We've come to fuckin' blow
We've come to blow the show
We've come to fuckin' blow
You know it, you know it
What's the name of the song? Explosivo!
Don't know what it's about, but it's good to riddle-ah
I am not one of you, I come from an ancient time
I am known as The Kicker of Elves. I am also known as The Angel Crusher!
Explosivo.
GaelDT
This album is the soundtrack of my teenage years, I knew every skit, lyric and sang those songs often with friends. Classic AF!
Marcos Ramos
Same here man I was a freshman when this came out so however old that was lol damn the good ol day's 🤘🤘
Shay Flynn
Same! I'm gonna finally get to see the D so many years later at the Manchester Pavillion on September 18th! I got VIP tickets through my place of work! So excited!
Kyla Creveling
Same
cynxboredom
Monkey money
Xxx Xxx
I love that me and my friends actually made an edited longer version of this song way back when Windows XP was new
King.Thor.
I remember my sister freaking out finding this CD at a pawnshop after it was released. I also remember stealing it from her because I loved it so much.
Shes passed away now but just seeing this Album cover brings me back to her expression all those years ago. Thanks for being a part of that moment.
DICEplays
Masterpiece 🐉 🎸
Legionkingz
Favorite Song Off This Album. Kick Ass ! Long Live The D!
Jacob Richardson
This song is hilarious and gold 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
And I'm a huge Jack Black fan since '03.