Features

Let It D: Tenacious D, The Greatest Band in the World (or Maybe the Second Greatest, They’re Still Working That Out)

Page McConnell played keys on the first D album and Trainwreck did some Vida Blue openers but did you ever see Phish perform live?

KG: I went and saw one of the final shows. It was great. I did nitrous on the bus, and they’re big pot smokers so I had a good time. Until I got kind of paranoid and had to hide in the bus. Second greatest… Little River Band? [He hums the chorus to LRB’s “Reminiscing.”)

JB: I like The Who. I want one more guy to die and they still go on.

KG: Don’t they have Zak Starkey on drums?

JB: Ringo Starr’s son must be better than Ringo.

KG: We should have Zak go against Jason Bonham. They should have a drum off.

JB: I think that’s pretty clearly a Starkey win

KG: Is it? I don’t know.

JB: You love that show, Damnocracy. [VH-1s SuperGroup featured the made-for-reality-TV group Damnocracy, which included Bonham, Ted Nugent, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian and Evan Seinfeld.]

KG: Any band that’s created on television is genius.

The Road

In December you begin a European tour. How are you treated over there? Do you find that the Old World is fully receptive of the D?

JB: We have only played countries where English is the second language three or four times and it’s always been a little funky because the subtleties get lost in translation. In Sweden we had this very strange clapping audience and they wanted [Black demonstrates] to-clap-to-the-beat-of-every-song. That ruined it for me. And Amsterdam, you’d think that would be the best ever because it’s a party town but there was just something off where they weren’t quite getting it. So when you say Europe, I’m really looking forward to the places where they’re going to get the nuance of every word.

KG: The U.K. loves it. God bless the U.K.

JB: The U.K., Ireland, Scotland. Is Scotland part of the U.K.?

KG: Yes. It’s the United Kingdom. If you had your asses kicked by England in that region then you’re part of the U.K.

JB: Then I don’t think Scotland is part of the U.K. How much do you want to bet? [Black reaches into his pocket and removes a handful of crumpled bills]…You’re not even going to answer me? You’re just going to look at him as if, “Do you see what I have to contend with…?” Well, you had a chance to double your money. Too late! So when you say Europe, I’m saying, “Yeah, I’m looking forward to the U.K. That’s all we really have on the schedule.