The controversy surrounding Tenacious D and his abruptly canceled tour was put to rest Saturday night when Jack Black welcomed the artist responsible for inspiring them at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Black was on hand to introduce Ozzy Osbourne at the star-studded event in Cleveland, Ohio, where the rocker was honored with his second induction.
The self-styled Prince of Darkness, 75, had previously been inducted in 2006 as a member of iconic heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath.
Sporting a thick beard, Black, 55, looked dazzled as he welcomed his musical hero after his own band was forced to cancel their tour following inappropriate comments made by guitarist Kyle Gass.
Gass was forced to apologize after joking about Donald Trump being the target of a failed assassination attempt while performing with Tenacious D.
The controversy surrounding Tenacious D and his abruptly canceled tour was put to rest Saturday night when Jack Black welcomed the artist responsible for inspiring them at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Black was on hand to introduce Ozzy Osbourne at the star-studded event in Cleveland, Ohio, where the rocker was honored with his second induction.
Sporting a thick beard, Black looked dazzled as he welcomed his musical hero after his own band was forced to cancel their tour following inappropriate comments made by guitarist Kyle Gass.
Republican presidential candidate Trump was left bloodied and shaken after a bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Pennsylvania in July.
Black subsequently put “all future creative plans” for the band on hold after being “shocked” by his bandmate’s comments on stage in Sydney.
Introducing Ozzy in front of a star-studded audience on Saturday night, Black admitted that listening to his music as a child influenced his own musical direction with Tenacious D.
“I remember the first time I heard about Ozzy,” he recalled. ‘I was 13 and wandering around the record store. What should I get? Stygian? Journey?
‘An older rock fan noticed my indecision and said, “Stop fucking around, kid.” This is the album you need, Blizzard of Ozz.”
‘Man, I was right!’ Thank you, nameless rock fan, wherever you are, you changed my life. I remember looking at the album cover in Ozzy’s face before I even heard the music. I was paralyzed.
“He looked so cool, that red and white suit with white fringe on the sleeves, that crazy look in his eyes, the skull, the cross. Holy shit. It all looked so badass.
‘It was the most metallic thing I had ever seen in my life, and I didn’t even know what metal was. He was teaching me. I didn’t realize I was entering a whole new world of heavy metal music.
Introducing Ozzy in front of a star-studded audience on Saturday night, Black admitted that listening to his music as a child influenced his own musical direction with Tenacious D.
‘It was the most metallic thing I had ever seen in my life, and I didn’t even know what metal was. He was teaching me. “I didn’t realize I was entering a whole new world of heavy metal music,” he said.
Black woke up the audience at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
Black was honored to welcome his musical hero to the stage at Saturday’s event.
Ozzy, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, took the stage on a throne adorned with bat wings.
The actor and singer announced that the Tenacious D tour had been canceled and that all of his ‘creative plans’ were on hold after his bandmate Kyle Gass sparked controversy with a comment about Donald Trump.
Gass’ ill-timed prank came when Black sang happy birthday to the 64-year-old guitarist and asked him to make a wish, to which he responded: ‘Don’t miss Trump next time.’
After the concert, Black Star: ‘I was surprised by what was said at the show on Sunday.
“I would never tolerate hate speech or encourage political violence in any form. After much reflection, I no longer feel it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour and all future creative plans are on hold.
“I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding.”
Gass also apologized, adding: “The line I improvised on stage on Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake.”
‘I do not condone violence of any kind, in any form, against anyone. What happened was a tragedy and I am truly sorry for my serious lack of judgment.
“I deeply apologize to those I have let down and am truly sorry for any pain I have caused.”
The comment referred to the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday.
Gass, who apologized, has since been fired from his talent agency as a direct result.
A source has since claimed that Black quickly canceled Tenacious D’s tour in a desperate attempt to avoid being banned from Hollywood and jeopardizing his upcoming films.
“Jack Black is still best friends with Kyle Gass,” a source exclusively told DailyMail.com. “I wasn’t expecting the swipe that Kyle took on Trump, and with his position in Hollywood, he had to shut down this controversy instantly.
‘Although Jack was surprised and even surprised by the reaction, he made sure to get ahead of himself.
“Jack doesn’t expect it to get cancelled, and by the end of the tour and getting away from everything and Kyle’s prank, he hopes people will forget him quickly.
“There are so many big movies that Jack is attached to right now and to derail them would be career suicide. We will see Tenacious D again, but it could be years from now.”
In June, he gave a speech that went viral at a star-studded fundraiser in Los Angeles for President Joe Biden.
But the ensuing controversy surrounding Gass and his joke about Donald Trump was forgotten during Saturday night’s ceremony.
Black currently has three films in post-production, including the upcoming sci-fi action comedy Borderlands, which is scheduled for release later this year.
He plays the lead role in the live-action film based on the video game Minecraft, alongside Jason Momoa and Danielle Brooks, which hits theaters on April 4, 2025.
He will also share the screen with Keegan-Michael Key in the new Christmas comedy, Dear Santa, which follows a boy who accidentally sends his wish list to Satan.
Gass, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump, is said to fear for his friendship with Jack.
“Kyle never wanted it to get to this point, obviously,” the source said. “He really feels bad about the consequences.
‘He thought it was a throwaway line during a show, but it has taken on a life of its own and he is accepting his current fate.
“He just hopes that people forgive him and that it doesn’t affect his friendship with Jack.”
