Tenacious D's "Tribute" centers around the band warding off a demon by playing the greatest song in the world, and then not being able to remember what the greatest song in the world was. Turns out it's Metallica's thrash classic "One". Or at least that was the inspiration for the concept of "Tribute".
In an interview with Metal Hammer, Tenacious D's Kyle Gass and Jack Black reminisced on getting to know each other during the summer of 1989 when The Actors' Gang performed at the Edinburgh Festival. Gass and Black ultimately started hanging out back at home, Gass taught Black how to play guitar, and wrote a bad song called "Melissa".
"We realised right after we wrote that song that it was bad and that we were not going to be a serious band that wrote serious songs," said Black. "I never wanted to sing it live because it was too embarrassing and, like, emotional."
Black later added that after their failed song, they turned to metal. "Really, the first song that we bonded over, that I played for Kyle and was like, 'Check this out, this is the best song in the world', was Metallica's 'One'," said Black. "That was kind of the real 'Tribute' inspiration," added Gass.
No go watch the "Tribute" music video. It rules. Tenacious D is also back with a new round of US tour dates lined up for this summer. Get the dates below and get your tickets here.
9/6 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
9/7 – Franklin, TN @ Firstbank Amphitheater
9/9 – Indianapolis, IN @ All IN Music Festival
9/11 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
9/13 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
9/14 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre
9/15 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
