Tenacious D tour canceled after controversial joke: Kyle Gass sparks backlash with Trump remark in Sydney

Jack Black's comedy rock band, Tenacious D, has decided to cancel the remainder of their tour following a controversial incident involving band member Kyle Gass. The incident took place at a concert in Sydney, where Gass made a joke about the recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump.

The joke? Gass was asked a wish for his 64th brithday, and he suggested not missing Trump next time. As one might expect, the comment sparked significant backlash and led to calls for the band to be deported from Australia. Tenacious D, known for their humorous and satirical music, was formed in 1994 by Jack Black and Kyle Gass, with their name deriving from the sports-related phrase of "tenacious defense."

The band is recognized for its blend of comedy rock, with hits like "Tribute" and "Wonderboy." Over the years, they have released several albums, including their recent single, "Video Games," which, at the time, marked their first new release in five years.

Following the incident, Jack Black, the star of the successful Kung Fu Panda franchise, expressed his shock and disapproval of Gass's comment. In a statement to CNN, Black emphasized that he does not condone hate speech or political violence and felt it necessary to halt the tour and future creative plans. As if to make the problem even worse, this happened shortly after Jack Black promoted current President and Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden, who urged Americans "to lower the temperature in our politics" after the attempt on Donald Trump's life.

Tenacious D and Kyle Gass's apology

For what it's worth, Kyle Gass also issued an apology on Instagram, admitting that his remark was inappropriate and dangerous, and he expressed deep regret for his lack of judgment. He stated: "The line I improvised onstage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. I don’t condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone."

The fallout from the joke was swift. Australian Senator Ralph Babet called for the immediate deportation of the band, arguing that such comments were unacceptable and advocating for their removal from the country. Additionally, Gass's Hollywood talent representative, Michael Greene, parted ways with him following the incident, with Greene saying "We have parted ways after what happened in Sydney."

Tenacious D's canceled plans

Tenacious D had been scheduled to perform in several cities across Australia and New Zealand, including Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide, before concluding the tour in the US. However, the promoter Frontier Touring announced the postponement of the shows amid the controversy, for whatever time is deemed appropriate (which may include indefinitely).

Who are (or at least were) Tenacious D?

The band's style, often described as a fusion of acoustic rock, heavy metal, lots of humor, and occasional slices of classical music, features intricate guitar work by Gass and powerful vocals by Black. Their live performances are known for their high energy and humorous elements, making them a unique act in the music world of today, which is often devoid of such humor.

Despite the current scandal, which could either be career-destroying or just a minor setback, Tenacious D's influence and contributions to comedy rock remain significant. Though they are parodic, there is perhaps truth to the idea that they are still one of modern rock's true torchbearers. If you are so inclined, you can visit their official website for more information about Tenacious D and their latest projects​.

How unique is this situation?

It probably doesn't pay to speculate on the repercussions of this scandal, but it should be said that political violence has been promoted (seriously or jokingly) by musical artists and celebrities before. Comedian Kathy Griffin's career was significantly harmed after she posed holding a bloody-looking prop head resembling Donald Trump's. Not to be outdone, years later, Trump, a former reality TV star, himself shared a video of Joe Biden hog-tied in the back of a pickup truck.

Right-wing rocker and cheating-at-golf enthusiast Kid Rock shared a social media post pf himself shooting up cans of Bud Light because they dared to have a sponsorship deal with transgendered TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney (with the obvious implication of threat, given that the "scandal" here is the mere existence of someone who is transgendered sponsoring Bud Light — the packs of Bud Light could reasonably be seen as a stand-in, or effigy, for Mulvaney).

Then let's not forget how, years before Trump was President, Ted Nugent had told Obama to suck on his machine gun, and called him a "communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel" and a "chimpanzee."
So, really, it seems that if Ted Nugent can continue a career in some capacity, maybe Tenacious D should be able to as well.