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K nown for such popular movies as “School of Rock” (2003), “High Fidelity” (2000) and the animated feature “Kung Fu Panda” (2008), the world-fa- mous Jack Black and his (tongue-in-cheek) self-proclaimed “greatest band in the world,” Te- nacious D, will perform their very first concert in Seoul on Friday, Dec. 5. Having become one of the biggest cult bands in the Western music scene, Tenacious D’s stage presence, skill and spirit can be compared to the likes of the alternative and metal greats from the ‘90s that the pair so clearly idolize. The band consists of two members: One is the very well-known actor and comedian Jack Black, and the other is one of his closest friends, the char- ismatic guitarist Kyle Gass. What makes this concert partic- ularly special, however, is that it’s happening at all: Jack Black’s lack of availability is no joke, sadly. For- tunately, the entertainment company Private Curve has been working hard for the past five years to make this event possible. The opportunity to see this band live is not something to be taken for granted. Just as a pack of cigarettes comes plastered with tobacco warnings, this band, too, has its own pre-show message, straight from Tenacious D itself: “Caution: The surgeon general of rock warns that viewing this band is equal to 29 orgasms.” The band began to gain popularity in 1997, when it had a comedic-live TV series on the popular U.S. ca- ble network HBO. This show took them from the underground comedy scene to a major-label album deal, bringing with it a real start to the band’s career. By 2001 Tenacious D had released its debut album, “Tribute,” with the title track being an homage to the forgotten “greatest song in the world” (launching a ten- dency for the expression “greatest in the world” to be associated with the group). The album was certified platinum, and soon after Tenacious D started opening for bands like Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters. The pair also put work into a Tenacious D movie, “The Pick of Destiny,” which was released in 2006. Having gained a reputation for being solid performers, their follow-up album of the same name climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 10 on the U.K. chart. Unfortunately, due to Jack Black’s other commitments, a prop- er tour has not been in the works. Even with these scheduling conflicts, the band has still managed to make appearances on multiple main stages across the international music festival cir- cuit: at the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds Festivals 2008 with Metallica; at the massive Bonaroo Music and Arts Festival in the United States; at Germany’s major festival, Rock am Ring; and the U.K.’s Download Fes- tival. One of their shows at a theme park in Sweden brought in more than 20,000 fans, causing havoc at a ven- ue that was not equipped for such an enthusiastic turnout. In 2012, Tenacious D released their third album, “Rize of the Fenix.” As expected, the lyrical content was de- livered in their irreverent style, but, in addition to the hilarity of the content, the album’s melodies demonstrated the influence of such rock heavy - weights as Led Zeppelin and former co-performers Metallica. Though it did not take the top spot on the U.K. charts, the album still reached the sought-after No. 2 position, and it peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Bill- board 200. As the best-selling album in the comedy-rock genre, it was no surprise when the release was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2013. During their upcoming shows, the unpredictable and inimita- ble duo will not only display their talents and skills, but they will also display an accumulated 20 years of rock energy. These guys wear their fandom on their sleeves, so if you ever had even the slightest bit of interest in heavier, guitar-driven music, or simply just enjoy watching Jack Black’s movies, this rare opportunity to catch Tenacious D live in Korea must not be missed. Tickets to Tenacious D’s first live event in Seoul can be found through Interpark. There is an age restriction of 18+. C o n t r i b u t i o n b y P r i v a t e C u r v e C o . , L t d . Friday, Dec. 5 @ 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6 @ 7 p.m. Olympic Park – Olympic Hall Standing/Seat R: 121,000 won; Seat S: 110,000 won; Seat A: 99,000 won 18+ ticket.interpark.com/1544-1555 (02) 563-0595 Date Venue Price Age Tickets Inquiries Tenacious D Live in Seoul ThE gREATEsT BAND ON EARTh is COMiNg Tenacious D performs live in Seoul Dec. 5-6 ADvERTORIAL