- Music
- 22 Jan 26
Kyle Gass confirms the return of Tenacious D
The band went on hiatus after the outrage over Gass's onstage joke in 2024.
Since taking a break almost two years ago, Kyle Gass has confirmed that he and bandmate Jack Black have reconciled and that Tenacious D will reunite.
"We hashed it out," said Gass in a Rolling Stone interview. "It is like a marriage. You go through these ups and downs, and try to understand your partner. We will serve no D-wine, before it's D-time - but we will be back. We will return."
The American comedy rock band, which was formed in Los Angeles in 1994, went on a temporary hiatus two years ago, after Gass made a joke about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump the day after it had occurred.
During their performance in Sydney in July 2024, Black suggested that Gass make a wish to celebrate his birthday while blowing out candles, to which Gass replied, "don't miss Trump next time".
At the time, media outlets all over the world covered the comment, and the Australian senator Ralph Babet demanded that the group be deported. The outrage that Tenacious D faced led to the cancellation of their Australian Tour and the decision to put all future creative plans on hold.
“I’ve felt terrible ever since, because it’s such a responsibility to not screw up like that,” said Gass. “I was naive, of course – people are gonna pick that up. But I just felt it was kind of a private moment. I thought I was safe in the bubble. And it was so fast."
"If there was ever a ‘too soon,’ it was this. And maybe I thought I was on it, or ahead of the curve. But no, it was definitely too soon.”
During the controversy, Gass was so criticised that even his 95-year-old mother was targeted.
“Somebody called my mom," said Gass. "My poor 95-year-old mom. It hits close to home, and you want to be brave and courageous, but I’m not a congressman. We’re just entertainers. And it just bespeaks the insanity of the times. It feels almost vindictive."
At the time, Gass apologised, describing the line he had improvised on stage as inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake.
He later deleted the appology witch led to people speculating that he had censored it. However, the Tenacious D member recently affirmed that it was not the case and that if it were, he would have said so.
Taking to Instagram, the School of Rock star also apologised for what had happened.
"I was blindsided by what was said at the show on Sunday," said Black. "I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form."
A few months after the incident, Black hinted that the band would one day return. "We had to take a break, " said Black. "Everybody takes a break sometimes."
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