The big D energy is back.
Tenacious D — the comic rock duo comprised of actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass — has returned from a hiatus after the latter made controversial remarks about the attempted assassination of President Trump last July.
And they’re coming back for a good cause: The twosome cover REO Speedwagon’s 1980 classic “Keep on Loving You” as part of “Good Music to Lift Los Angeles,” a compilation album benefitting victims of the LA wildfires, which is exclusively available on Bandcamp for one day only on Friday.
With proceeds going to the L.A. Regional Food Bank and California Foundation’s Wildfire Fund, the 90-track compilation also features covers, remixes, live recordings, demos and other previously unreleased material from R.E.M., TV on the Radio, My Morning Jacket, Death Cab for Cutie, Dawes, Interpol, the New Pornographers, Mudhoney, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Animal Collective, Perfume Genius, Manchester Orchestra and more.
Tenacious D, who previously covered “Keep on Loving You” live, canceled an Australian tour and announced that they were taking a break last July after Gass’ controversial comments about Trump’s attempted assassination at a show in Sydney. When Black rolled out a birthday cake for Gass to celebrate his 64th and asked him to make a wish, Gass quipped, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” just weeks after a gunman opened fire on Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear and killing a rally attendee.
After the comment, Black posted an apology on Instagram, writing, “I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday. I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.
“After much reflection,” he added, “I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold.”
In addition to the canceled Australian tour, a planned fall run of US shows in swing states ahead of last November’s presidential election was also nixed.
In a deleted Instagram post, Gass apologized, writing, “The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy, and I’m incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement. I profoundly apologize to those I’ve let down and truly regret any pain I’ve caused.”
Shortly after, Gass was dropped by his talent agency, Greene Talent.
In August, Black addressed the controversy, telling Variety, “We need to take a break. Everybody needs a break sometime. And we’ll be back.”
Asked if he’d talked to Gass since the abrupt hiatus, Black replied, “Yeah, we’re friends. That hasn’t changed. These things take time sometimes… And we’ll be back when it feels right.”
He continued, “I love Tenacious D. It’s probably my favorite job, if you can call it that. It’s a work of art, it’s my baby.”
