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.
March
Tenacious D Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
March march march march
March march march march
We're marching for the cause of white salvation
We're marching for the KKK
We like Barbeque and we like guns too
And we don't like gays
March march march march
March march march march
March march march march
We're marching to secure the white ascension
We're marching to protect our sacred ways
In the USA you are not aloud to be gay
Anymore that's what the lore says
March march march march
March march march march
March march march march
March march march march
March march march march
The lyrics to Tenacious D's song "MarCH" are meant to be satirical and mocking towards the beliefs of white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. The repetition of "march" represents the idea of blindly following and obeying a cause without critical thought or individualism. The first few lines speak of marching for white salvation and the KKK, clearly revealing their absurdity and the harmful ideologies they represent. The reference to loving barbecue and guns is a common stereotype associated with white supremacists, and the declaration of not liking gays perpetuates their homophobic beliefs.
The next set of lyrics continues to mock white supremacists and their perceived protection of their alleged sacred ways. The line "In the USA you are not aloud [sic] to be gay" is a direct contradiction to the reality of the LGBTQ+ community's fight for equal rights, and further emphasizes the ignorance and exclusionary values of the beliefs behind the KKK and similar groups.
Overall, the lyrics of "MarCH" use humor and irony to expose and criticize the dangerous and harmful beliefs behind white supremacy and the KKK. It highlights the importance of critical thinking and individualism in the face of blindly following a harmful cause.
Line by Line Meaning
March march march march
The repetition of 'march' emphasizes the act of marching, which is a symbol of the group's unity and determination.
We're marching for the cause of white salvation
The group firmly believes that white people need to be saved and that their march will contribute to this cause.
We're marching for the KKK
The group openly supports the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and marches in their name.
We like Barbeque and we like guns too
The group embraces stereotypical 'redneck' culture, which includes enjoying backyard BBQs and owning guns.
And we don't like gays
The group is discriminatory towards the LGBTQ+ community and openly expresses their dislike for them.
We're marching to secure the white ascension
The group seeks to ensure the dominance of white people, believing that they are superior to all other races.
We're marching to protect our sacred ways
The group perceives their white supremacist beliefs as sacred and intends to protect them.
In the USA you are not aloud to be gay
The group spreads misinformation about LGBTQ+ rights, claiming that being gay is illegal in the United States.
Anymore that's what the lore says
The group is operating under a false belief (lore) that being gay is no longer allowed in the US, based on hearsay rather than fact.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kyle Richard Gass, Thomas Jacob Black
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dr. Lennon Black
One song that I can't blast in the car... XD
David Fellner
Oh shit, good point! I woulda gotten myself shot if you hadn't pointed this out...
gabrilapin Mc
@Beansman1053 xD
Beansman1053
my mom blasted this in the car once
Joe Baumann
That's why they made the song!!! lol
ssbThomas
I keep thinking about the raid in Django unchained, “No! Nobody brought an extra bag!”
“I can’t see fuckin shit outta this thing!”
Tyler Andros
You can't watch this album on the screen, you have to see it live. I saw it in SF recently and it was so amazing, even after hating on it because it isn't an easy listener. The shitty animation is the joking style of JB and KG saying they are just kinda still 10-year-olds, which they have demonstrated in every album. Also, the live version has SO many more parts to it.
David Fellner
I'm really curious what this album would be like live.
Amalgama- Dette
where do u see it?
Jason Walker
0:18 I can't stop listening to it!