Tenacious D "one-and-a-half songs" into next album

By Gary Graff

DETROIT (Billboard) - The irreverent rock duo Tenacious D, featuring actor Jack Black, have begun work on a new album -- just don't hold your breath waiting for it.

The project marks the follow-up to the 2006 film project "The Pick of Destiny," which bombed at the box office.

"We probably only have one to one and a half songs right now, and we probably need 12 to 15," Black's bandmate Kyle Gass told Billboard.com. "It might take the rest of our lives, but I think it'll be worth waiting for."

Black has been a little distracted by his red-hot movie career. He is currently in theaters with the hit cartoon "Kung Fu Panda," and will be back for more on August 15 with the comedy "Tropic Thunder."

But Gass said he and Black are serious about their album.

"We'd like to do one final masterpiece, I think," he acknowledged. "I think we both know we're approaching death, as it were, and we'd like to have a lasting legacy. ('The Pick of Destiny') was kind of a soundtrack to the movie so we had to fulfill obligations that way. And now it's kind of opened up."

Meanwhile Gass is spending part of the summer traveling to music festivals around the world on General Motors' dime, shooting video clips that are put up on a GM Web site designed to promote dialogue about contemporary issues.

"They've realized they screwed up, and they now want to atone and start making fuel-efficient cars," said Gass, who drives a Lexus. "Can they do it? I don't think so. Are they gonna try? Yes, they are. Do I get paid either way? Yes."

Reuters/Billboard