Editing Tenacious D (section)

===Formation and early years===
Jack Black and Kyle Gass met in Los Angeles in 1986 as members of [[the Actors' Gang]] theater troupe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/shows/comedy-bang-bang/blog/2015/04/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-tenacious-d|title=Read This, Gently: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Tenacious D|website=Ifc.com}}</ref> They were initially not friendly, as Gass was the main musician for the Actor's Gang and "felt threatened" by Black.<ref name="dynamic duo">{{cite news |first=Hugh |last=Hart |title='D' is for dynamic duo |date=November 6, 2006 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/26/PKGDRMFCSD1.DTL&type=movies |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=March 18, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Seattle">{{cite news| first=Sandy | last=Cohen | title=The fake but true story of Tenacious D | date= November 23, 2006 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003443880_tenaciousqa23.html?syndication=rss |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=March 14, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Sunday-times">{{cite news |first=Jasper |last=Rees |title=Dude, where's my guitar? |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article612938.ece |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=December 28, 2006 |location=London}}</ref> The Actor's Gang travelled to Scotland for the [[Edinburgh Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe Festival]] in 1989 to perform [[Tim Robbins]]' and [[Adam Simon]]'s<ref>{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Teicholz |title=Gang of Actors reaches a new stage |date=March 14, 2008 |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts_in_la/article/gang_of_actors_reaches_a_new_stage_20080314/ |work=[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]] |access-date=April 4, 2008 |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616155542/http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts_in_la/article/gang_of_actors_reaches_a_new_stage_20080314/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> play ''Carnage''.<ref name="tenacious-d-carnage">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Morris |title=Jack Black Close Up |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/Column/0,,327906,00.html |date=June 4, 2000 |access-date=January 6, 2008 |location=London}}</ref><ref name="tenacious-d-edinburgh">{{cite news |last=Woodman |first=Chay |date=February 7, 2006 |title=Tenacious D Interview |url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/artists/article.cfm?artistid=3153&articleid=411&startrow=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030512170050/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/artists/article.cfm?artistid=3153&articleid=411&startrow=2 |archive-date=May 12, 2003 |access-date=December 19, 2006 |work=Virtual Festivals}}</ref> The two became friends during the trip and climbed [[Arthur's Seat]] on a day off.<ref name="kerrang.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/jack-black-tribute-was-our-mona-lisa-an-oral-history-of-tenacious-ds-self-titled-debut-album/|title="Tribute Was Our Mona Lisa" – An Oral History Of Tenacious D's Self-Titled Debut Album|website=Kerrang.com|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> Following the trip, Black and Gass bonded over music. Black did not learn guitar until he was around 23. He would regularly visit Gass's apartment on Cochran Avenue; Gass would teach Black to play guitar in return for food.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/musictv/guitars/video/jackblack/|title=BBC - Imagine: The Story of the Guitar - Video - Jack Black Interview|access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=GQ|title=Tenacious D Goes Undercover on Reddit, YouTube and Twitter {{!}} GQ|date=November 1, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZEQkfEFYhA&t=398s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/7ZEQkfEFYhA| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> They worked together professionally at the Actor's Gang and collaborated in productions.<ref>{{Citation|last=Guitarings|title=Guitarings - Viewer Mailbag - 10/4/11|date=October 4, 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIcSKrfNaEg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/aIcSKrfNaEg| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=November 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Black and Gass eventually wrote their first song after Black was dumped by a girlfriend, a non-comedic song. They later said they felt embarrassed about the song, though they occasionally sing it during interviews when telling their story.<ref>{{Citation |last=bigfootisreal100 |title=Tenacious D - The D's First Song (Melissa) |date=October 16, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aVcOQopFus |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/_aVcOQopFus |archive-date=November 2, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=November 2, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Their second song came about when Black was listening to the [[Metallica]] song "[[One (Metallica song)|One]]" and told Gass that it was "the best song in the world". Gass told Black that they could not write the best song in the world, but Black put a twist on it and said they could "write a tribute". Gass played an A-minor chord on his guitar at the apartment and the two spent three days crafting the song. When it was done, Gass said they "knew they had something". The song made the duo realize their comedic potential.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Guitarings/videos/vb.115431963700/10100946341944973/?type=3&theater|title=Guitarings|website=Facebook.com|language=en|access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> The duo briefly called themselves Responsive Chord while rehearsing the comedy act.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deville |first1=Chris |title=''Tenacious D'' Turns 20 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2161666/tenacious-d-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=June 14, 2024 |language=en |date=September 24, 2021}}</ref>