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.
Warning
Tenacious D Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not at liberty to say the details of our most peculiar warning.
Yeah.
Suffice to say, all you people here are in grave danger.
So come on!
Through the skies, he flies!
But he flies so high, you know that it's true!
Lot of times, when the elders, they smile.
An illusion, an infusion, an intrusion!
An amusement park ride!
Exploding brains, from Alzon to Zanzibar.
To the shores of ye old rustic Chinook.
Decimating the competition.
Leaving in their wake, the blind ambition.
Come along children, and rock, get it on.
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
That it squats, that it squats, that it squats.
The opening lines of "Warning" by Tenacious D suggest that the band has been sent to deliver a warning to everyone listening to their music. They cannot reveal the specific details of their warning, but it is clear that they see everyone as being in grave danger. With this ominous introduction, the song takes a more lighthearted and surreal turn. They sing about a character who flies through the skies without knowing why, and reference amusement park rides, exploding brains, and decimating the competition. The repeated refrain of "In whatever heinous realm that it squats" adds to the surrealist tone of the song.
It is unclear what the warning in "Warning" actually pertains to, but the song is ultimately about the joy of rock and roll. The surreal imagery employed by the band serves as a metaphor for the wild, unpredictable nature of rock music itself. The lyrics are nonsensical and absurd, but the enthusiasm with which they are sung makes it clear that Tenacious D is passionate about the power of rock and roll.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been sent, to issue all you people here a warning.
We have a warning message to deliver to all of you.
I'm not at liberty to say the details of our most peculiar warning.
I cannot reveal the specifics of this warning message.
Yeah.
Indeed.
Suffice to say, all you people here are in grave danger.
It is sufficient to mention that you all are in serious peril.
So come on!
Therefore, act at once!
Through the skies, he flies!
He travels through the air with agility!
He doesn't know the reason why!
He is unaware of the motive for that.
But he flies so high, you know that it's true!
He flies to a great height, and everyone can attest to that.
Lot of times, when the elders, they smile.
Frequently, the seniors will wear a grin.
An illusion, an infusion, an intrusion!
A delusion, an addition, an interference!
An amusement park ride!
It is a ride at an amusement park!
Exploding brains, from Alzon to Zanzibar.
Brains explode, from Alzon to Zanzibar.
To the shores of ye old rustic Chinook.
It extends to the shores of the ancient Chinook settlement.
Decimating the competition.
It is wiping out the competition.
Leaving in their wake, the blind ambition.
It is leaving behind an insatiable thirst for fame and glory.
Come along children, and rock, get it on.
Join us, children, and let's rock it out!
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
It occupies a despicable domain.
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
It dwells in any vile domain it desires.
In whatever heinous realm that it squats.
It could reside in any repugnant area it wishes.
That it squats, that it squats, that it squats.
That is where it occupies, over and over again.
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@maulcs
We really needed a studio version of this, it's brilliant
@zakktastrophe5955
I think the fully acoustic guitar version keeps the sauce level spicy, and the rad tasty corn sauce blends together with the small dash of blending clown powder
@aeonsparxx9283
Seriously can we petition this??
@RileyCol
it sounds like a part of the city hall song
@tonyhenry2685
Still cannot agree more with this comment.
@CalebNathanaelNettles
Reminds me of barenaked ladies in a weird way
@thelaw_00
Warning is such an underrated song and deserves more recognition and live performances
@NormanNC
I'm not at liberty to say, the details of our most a-peculiar warning
@mirG
I feel comfortable saying that this is in the top 5 performances in human history.
@coffeetablesex
I just met Kyle Gass tonight and I can honestly say that I can die with no complaints.