Inside Jack Black and Kyle Gass' 30-year-long collaboration, from Tenacious D's hit Tribute to controversial cancelled tour
It's the age-old question: what is the best song in the world?
Many have tried to answer it, but perhaps no one more than comedy rock duo Tenacious D, who even wrote a song about it – and created their own best song, called Tribute. (You're singing it in your head already, aren't you?)
The duo, comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, set about to find an answer to the age-old question after being confronted by a demon in the idle of the road – at least, according to their music video for their 2002 song.
Watch the video above.
READ MORE: Hours before she gave birth to Hollywood A-lister, she saved three lives
Jack Black and Kyle Gass' Tribute hit and music video propelled Tenacious D to global stardom. YouTube
READ MORE: Sarah Ferguson's shock move after Buckingham Palace's announcement
The demon – played by former Nirvana drummer turned Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl – demand they play him "the best song in the world" or have their "souls eaten"
With nothing to lose, they play "the first thing that came to our heads", which "just so happened to be the best song in the world."
However, they make it very clear that Tribute is not the song they sang to the demon, and therefore not the best song in the world, with Black singing, "And the peculiar thing is this, my friends: The song we sang on that fateful night – it didn't actually sound anything like this song."
This song, as the title suggests, is simply a "tribute" to that song.
It hasn't stopped fans from guessing what the actual best song in the world is, even years after it made waves particularly in Australia and New Zealand, peaking at number four on the ARIA charts and number nine on the New Zealand Singles Chart.
Years on, the duo revealed what song led to Tribute being written. They claim that it all started when Black presented Metallica's One to Gass, describing it as "the best song in the world".
This led to attempts to write an even better song, and discussion about the meaninglessness of labelling any song that way. Thus Tribute was written to describe the impossibility of reaching musical perfection.
READ MORE: Star apologises to whole country after national anthem performance
EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Reynolds witnessed 'craziest' sight when Hugh Jackman walked on set
Tribute kick-started the band's global success, with Tenacious D – which was actually formed in 1994 – going on to release four albums: The Pick of Destiny (2006), Rize of the Fenix (2012), and Post-Apocalypto (2018).
They even had a self-titled television series that lasted from 1997 to 2002, plus a panned movie titled Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006).
Why Tenacious D cancelled the rest of their Spicy Meatball Tour
Black and Gass are back in the headlines this week, with the duo's second Sydney show – what was meant to be the second of five Australia shows – sparking furore, prompting Tenacious D to cancel the remaining Australia and New Zealand Spicy Meatball Tour concerts.
"[We] regret to advise that the remaining dates of Tenacious D's tour of Australia and New Zealand have been cancelled," Frontier Touring said in a statement on Wednesday morning. "All purchased tickets will receive a full refund."
On July 14, during Black and Gass' performance at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Black asked Gass, whose birthday it was, to make a wish.
Gass responded, in reference to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump earlier that day, "Don't miss Trump next time."
READ MORE: Star's big announcement has 20 million fans doing a double take
READ MORE: Seven words Aussie star needs to hear ahead of massive move
Donald Trump controversy sparks Tenacious D hiatus
Hours after cancelling July 16's planned Newcastle show, Black said he was "blindsided" by his longtime collaborator's comment, which sparked calls for their deportation.
"I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form," the School of Rock and High Fidelity star wrote on Instagram.
"After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative plans are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding."
Gass also issued a public apology over the comment, writing on Instagram on July 16: "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," he continued.
"What happened was a tragedy, and I'm incredibly sorry for my severe lack of judgement. I profoundly apologise to those I've let down and truly regret any pain I've caused."
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
