Watch Dave Grohl Rock Denver with a Surprise Cover of Tenacious D’s ‘Tribute’
Written by Jessica Lynch on August 5, 2024
Dave Grohl surprised fans at a Foo Fighters concert in Denver by performing an unexpected cover of Tenacious D’s “Tribute.”
During the acoustic section of the set at Empower Field on Aug. 3, Grohl took the mic and paid homage to his longtime friends and collaborators Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
“I only played the drums on that song,” Grohl quipped, recalling his contribution to the original track. You can check out the moment at the 1:31 mark below.
But as fans know, the beloved rocker’s involvement with Tenacious D goes far beyond percussion.
Grohl has played drums on all of Tenacious D’s albums and famously portrayed Satan in both the “Tribute” music video and the 2006 film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, his devilish antics having become a beloved part of the band’s mythology.
The Foo Fighters’ “Tribute” performance comes not long after Tenacious D found themselves in hot water over a controversial comment made during a show in Sydney on July 14.
When Jack Black asked Kyle Gass for his birthday wish, Gass replied, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” referencing the failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The remark drew major backlash, with an Australian senator calling for the band’s deportation and the Australian Prime Minister telling the band they needed to “grow up”.
In response, Tenacious D cancelled the rest of their tour and announced, “All future creative plans are on hold.”
Jack Black released a statement distancing himself from the controversial comments, saying in a statement that he was “blindsided” by his bandmate.
“I would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form,” Black wrote on Instagram before announcing the cancellation of the tour.
Kyle Gass also faced professional repercussions, reportedly being dropped by his agent.
In the midst of this controversy, Grohl’s Denver performance seemed to offer a light-hearted show of support for his friends.
“Tribute,” released in 2002, became Tenacious D’s breakthrough hit, reaching No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and peaking at No. 84 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
The “Tribute” music video, featuring Grohl as the devil, has amassed over 124 million views on YouTube since its release.
