Jack Black, frontman of Tenacious D, shared his experience about opening for Tool in an interview with Metal Hammer.
“I didn’t feel like we weren’t ready for prime time,” Black said. “I just felt like, ‘Oh, this is what happens when we don’t go to the right audience.'”
“We know Tool. Tool’s great, but that crowd – they came for Tool, or you better be a lot like Tool,” he continued. “We were a lot softer than Tool. We came out playing ‘Jesus Ranch,’ and they were like, ‘What?!'”
Tool’s frontman Maynard James Keenan confirmed this incident during a conversation with Lars Ulrich on Beats 1 Show It’s Electric. “It’s David Cross and Greg Behrendt getting pelted with quarters,” Keenan said. “And time after that, Tenacious D opened for us and got booed off the stage.”
Tool had invited Tenacious D to be their opening act for three shows in their early days.
This memorable incident represents a significant chapter in the historical connection between the two bands.
Tone Deaf revealed Keenan’s insights about Tool’s fanbase. He described them as “vicious,” which ultimately led them to abandon plans for incorporating comedy acts into their shows.
Wikipedia documented these shows in December 1995. The performances marked Tenacious D’s first major opportunity to support an established act.
Tenacious D’s career flourished after these early performances. The band established a regular presence at The Viper Room in Los Angeles during the late 1990s. Their success led to opportunities in television and film.
Consequence reported a recent reunion of both artists at Ozzy Osbourne’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October 2024. Black delivered the induction speech. Keenan participated in the musical tribute.
