The two members of the Tenacious D first met in 1994 when they started performing together as members of Los Angeles-based theater troupe The Actors Gang. At fist there was somewhat of a rivalry between the two, because Gass, who was a talented guitarist, felt threatened by Black--who was the go-to musician for The Actor's Gang. Eventually overcoming their animosity and making a brotherly alliance, the two decided to form a band--Tenacious D. The duo created a style of acoustic metal with self-deprecating lyrics, and after playing a number of open mic nights at small clubs around the Los Angeles region, the duo was noticed and offered a TV show with HBO. With the help of comedic minds Jack Black and Bob Odenkirk, Tenacious D created a TV show for itself that traced the origins of the group and its journey as it fell in and out of mythological pitfalls. Airing intermittently between 1997 and 2000, the series was eventually canceled. The D continued to play shows around Los Angeles and at a show at the Viper Room in Hollywood, Black and Gass met Foo Fighters frontman and ex Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, who was impressed with their performance. Appearing in a cameo in the Foo Fighters single "Learn to Fly" music video, the popularity of Tenacious D continued to grow as the duo landed opening slots for large bands like Pearl Jam, Beck as well as the Foo Fighters. In 2000, Tenacious D signed with Epic Records and started working on its self-titled debut album with noted production team the Dust Brothers as well as an assortment of musicians, including Phish's Page McConnell on keyboards and Grohl on drums.
