About eight months ago, comedic metal folk duo Tenacious D (Jack Black, vocals and guitar, and Kyle Gass guitar and vocals) decided to get serious and released a cover of the classic Rocky Horror Picture Show gem “Time Warp.” While this is a fun party tune, and the D version is still true to the party, the proceeds went to the Rock The Vote people. Consider that to be The D’s part in what everyone, regardless of what side you were on, called the most important vote that America has ever seen.
Eight months later, and we all have moved on from that. But the D boys are back in full swing. At a time when everyone is cognitive about how important healthcare professionals, first responders, and everyone who was out there fighting for us during the pandemic, while we were huddled behind closed doors for our safety, and theirs The D are releasing a single of the great Beatles medley at the end of Abbey Road and mashing up the first and last song in said medley that the D are calling “You Never Give Me Your Money/The End.” Yes, I am Captain Obvious.
The vinyl proceeds on this single will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. You can order the single on the Tenacious D website, and I’ll supply the link at the end of this piece. Just a warning that the single will ship in November. In the meantime, the single is available on Apple Music and Spotify.
Go out and download the digital single now, and pre-order the vinyl physical copy, and then you can feel good about yourself, that you did something wonderful for the world.
But why this single and why now? Here’s what the band says, speaking as a two headed monster:
“Tenacious D are paying tribute to the greatest band in the world…not themselves…The Beatles!!! In the spirit of healing the world….please enjoy tenacious d’s mashup of two classics from Abbey Road. All vinyl proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders.”
So, what about the music itself you ask. I’ll tell you, fine music fan. It’s everything that one would expect from Black, and Gass. Funny, thoughtful, holds true to the melody set forth by the Beatles, even though there are a few profanities and a f-bomb or two thrown in there for good measure. Hey, It’s Tenacious D after all! The video for the track is cool entertaining, with both members playing in photo shopped places around the globe and performing in their underwear…many times.
The one part that I love is when, since they are an acoustic duo, is when Black and Gass trade the lead riffs during “The End” that John Lennon and George Harrison do on Abbey Road, but the D guys do it vocally. Think of it as an old time Mel Torme, or David Lee Roth kind of scatting. Black also does this during the drum solo. This may seem a little silly reading this, but I defy anyone out there to tell me that they have never done the same thing, most likely in private.
Face it, we all have! Not that there’s anything wrong with it.
Here’s the point of all this; Tenacious D is doing something fun, entertaining, and at the same time are also doing something good for the world community. Doctors Without Borders are doing great things for people that do not have the facilities to get the correct medical attention that they sorely need. No reason at all why you shouldn’t go to there website, and pre-order the single. You’ll be glad you did.
Here’s the link, https://www.tenaciousd.com/
Have a tenacious day!
Article: Carmine Basilicata
