In the Key of 'D'

Image credit: Tenacious D In the Pick of Destiny: Zade Rosenthal

'DESTINY''S DARLINGS The D find at least one word that rhymes with ''rock'' on the DVD extras with Pick

How much of a challenge was it to make a movie that would appeal to the masses but also would please hard-core D fans?
JB: We never really thought about the fans when we made the TV show because we didn't really have any. And that worked out good, because we were making stuff that we thought was funny. So this is the same approach... We did stay true to the original show in a lot of ways — a lot of references back to the olden times.
KG: We definitely didn't pander. We just blew up the world hopefully into a really long, really good episode with more production values.

So you didn't ever wonder, 'Will everyone get this?'
KG: Oh, definitely. That's why the origin story is in there.
JB: Even if you've never seen the [TV show], I don't think anything in there plays like, 'Wink wink! Those of you special get it!' Because if everyone who's ever enjoyed the D came to the movie, it would be a flop.
KG: We've gotta get the newbie babies.

The movie has lots of cameos, including a memorable one by Tim Robbins [an old pal from L.A.'s experimental theater group the Actors' Gang]. How did you come up with his role as a creepy, one-legged foreigner who helps the D break into the Rock and Roll History Museum to steal the Pick of Destiny?
KG: He came in and was like, ''I was thinking he should have a Russian accent,'' and I was like, ''Oh, Tim, please don't pick our movie to stretch in.'' He read it every other way kinda lame because he wanted to do the Russian accent. But now I can't imagine it any other way! And we needed some Oscar cred.
JB: We've got one Oscar winner and one nominee.
KG: But we have, like, four Golden Globe nominees.

You filmed a new ending for the movie — a musical showdown with the Devil, played by Dave Grohl. One wouldn't think that the D did reshoots.
JB: Maybe we shouldn't call it a reshoot. Let's call it a D-shoot. It's a flavor-enhancing ass-blowloader.... We need a heart-stopping finale to explode people's brains, and it took us making a whole movie to realize what we needed.
KG: You don't want it half-baked. The fans deserve it. We've made them wait a long time for this. I hope they haven't forgotten. I pray they haven't forgotten. [To Jack] You know what'd be good for our movie? If the Vatican condemned it.

You worry that fans may have forgotten you?
JB: I don't think they've forgotten, but the field's gotten more competitive. You've got this Sacha Cohen upstart and he threatens to knock us off our powerful comedy-rock pedestal — not that he rocks, but just that he comedies. We've got to bring all the spicy mustard to compete with the hounds nipping at our heels, the jackals trying to bite our privates — and we will strike back with a mighty blow.

It's a pretty daunting task to face down Satan. Are you sure you guys are up to it?
JB: The movie is the story of Tenacious D's quest to become the greatest band of all time, so it seems unavoidable that at some point we would have to have the classic battle with Satan, à la Robert Johnson. Or the ''Devil Went Down to Georgia'' dude.
KG: Or Faust.
JB: Or that dude from Crossroads, Ralph Macchio... It's about facing your fears. You know how the most delicious thing about Star Wars really is Darth Vader? A movie's only as good as its kickass villain, and no one's as powerful as Beelzebub. Satan is the ultimate fucking villain.
KG: [To Jack] What about Philip Seymour Hoffman in M:I3?
JB: I haven't seen that. Is he badass?
KG: I don't know. You can imagine, though. When he puts his f---ing serious badguy sauce on, Tom's in for a wild ride! I mean, it's a titantic battle.
JB: I'm pretty sure you said ''titantic.'' Is that like a combination of something and something else?
KG: Of titanic and tantric. A very sexy large battle.

There's a subtextual stoner vibe in the HBO show, but it's really played up in the movie. Was that a conscious decision?
JB: We never got stoned on the HBO show?
KG: No.
JB: I thought we did. I mean, it's not like Cheech & Chong where the plot of the movie is to smuggle the weed over the border in our weed car.
KG: It's accurate [to] that kind of Boho existence. It's just a part of the world — donuts and coffee and weed. You assume that it might help your music, and it probably doesn't, but if you believe it does, it might.
JB: There's weed, there's Sasquatch, there's the devil, and there's rock. It's a delicious soup. It's an essential ingredient... Anyone that goes, 'Oh, bad form! I disapprove of your weed celebration!' — I don't really care about those people anyway.

Given your movie career, Jack, you could've left the D behind. What's kept you loyal?
JB: This is my baby. I didn't write King Kong. Plus, I would've been haunted for the rest of my days by people going, [in brokenhearted-boy voice] ''How come you left the D behind? How could you?'' So now I'm covered. Whether it's a success or not, we f---ing made a D movie — that we like.

What's your prediction, in millions, for the opening weekend box office?
KG: I'll say 61.
JB: I'd be really stoked if we got 10. But then the next weekend? Niiine! Then the next weekend? Eeeleven! It's all about the legs.
KG: My theory is: If RV can be the No. 1 comedy, then maybe a bowl of s--- can be No. 1.

Kyle, did Jack you give you any advice about the coming superstardom?
KG: Well, I've had the opportunity to observe Jack throughout his entire movie star journey. And since the HBO show, I've gotten a chance to be a celebrity lite. Whereas 84 percent of the people know Jack, probably a strong 7 percent are familiar with my work.
JB: That's a lot when you look at the whole population.

So Jack, what advice did you dispense?
JB: [To Kyle] Reach for the stars — but keep your feet on the ground.
KG: [Extends hands toward the ceiling, plants feet firmly on the floor] Like this?
JB: Take it slow. Don't do blow.
KG: Don't get high — on your own supply.
JB: I'd say hold off on the bling-bling.

You're now embarking on a world tour to support your new album, Pick of Destiny. What are the demands in your contract rider?
JB: Diaper genie, crib, old-man rocking chair, electronic foot massager. Maybe a Jacuzzi.
KG: I want whores. Three whores. And hummus.
JB: [To Kyle] Letting people know you want whores cuts down on your Backstage Betty potential.
KG: You're right. Scratch that. We're going to call them ''contest winners.''

Where does the D go from here?
KG: I see one sequel, probably bad, maybe an album.
JB: There's gonna be a lot more women in the sequel. This one was pretty much a sausage fest.
JB and KG: [Overlapping] It's a brodeo.
KG: Jack and I will fight over some female love interest. And Tenacious D will taste ridiculous success.
JB: Yeah, we've got to trip the light fantastic.
KG: So there will be a love interest, a taste of success, and some sort of space journey.
JB: [Fondly] I think so too. There will be a shark — and we will be jumping it.