The D Ain’t Dead: Jack Black Says Tenacious D “Need a Break” But Will Be Back

No, a joke about former President Donald Trump nearly being assassinated last month didn’t kill Tenacious D. Sure, it might have looked like that in the initial aftermath following Kyle Gass‘ apology and Jack Black‘s announcement that “all future creative plans are on hold,” but the world won’t be bereft of the D forever.

You may recall that things got tense last month when on the very same night that the attack on Trump took place, Gass and Black were on stage in Sydney, Australia. That evening just so happened to be vocalist/guitarist Kyle Gass‘ 64th birthday, so when he was asked to make a wish for the occasion, he responded with: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”

That immediately caused controversy in Australia and the U.S., with at least one Australian politician urging Tenacious D be deported from the country. That wasn’t necessary in the end, as the remaining tour was canceled. Black ultimately released a statement saying he was “blindsided” by the joke and Gass wrote an apology, though he ultimately deleted it a couple days later.

While speaking with Variety‘s Marc Malkin at the Borderlands premiere, Black promised that Tenacious D would rise again and that nothing’s changed when it comes to his relationship with Gass.

“Yeah, we’re friends. That hasn’t changed. These things take time sometimes… And we’ll be back when it feels right.”

Having been on tour extensively with Tenacious D when his responsibilities in Hollywood didn’t get in the way, Jack said the band’s unexpected hiatus came at a time when things potentially needed to slow down. While wearing the “Pick of Destiny” from Tenacious D’s movie of the same name, he said the band just needed to “take a break.”

“I love Tenacious D. It’s probably my favorite job, if you can call it that. It’s a work of art, it’s my baby.”

So there ya have it. The D’s not dead.