After a nearly two-year hiatus sparked by a controversial onstage joke, the self-proclaimed “greatest band in the world” is officially getting back together. Kyle Gass, one half of the comedy-rock duo Tenacious D, has confirmed that he and Jack Black have reconciled and plan to revive the band.
The group imploded in July 2024 following a performance in Sydney, Australia. During the show, Black asked Gass to make a birthday wish, to which Gass replied, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” referencing the assassination attempt on the former president that had occurred just days prior. The comment ignited a global firestorm, leading to calls for the band’s deportation from Australia and the immediate cancellation of their tour. Black stated at the time that he was “blindsided” and put all creative plans on hold.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Gass revealed that the long-time friends have since mended fences. “We hashed it out,” Gass said. “It is like a marriage. You go through these ups and downs, and try to understand your partner.”
Gass admitted the joke was a “terrible judgment call” and that he has felt remorse ever since, acknowledging that it was “definitely too soon.” He described the aftermath as a “tsunami” that even resulted in his 95-year-old mother receiving threatening calls. Despite the severity of the backlash, Gass insisted that the bond with Black—whom he has known since he was 18—was strong enough to weather the storm.
“We will serve no D-wine before it’s D-time—but we will be back,” Gass promised, adding with characteristic bravado that their return is “gonna be bigger than Oasis!” While no specific dates have been announced, the confirmation effectively ends the uncertainty surrounding the band’s future.
It appears that for Black and Gass, the power of their decades-long friendship was simply too strong to let one discordant note silence the band for good.
