Jack Black's got a new comedy film out this week. In "Bernie" he plays a real-life Texas funeral director who killed his small town's wealthiest widow, played by Shirley MacLaine. And since the movie was made by his "School of Rock" director Richard Linklater, it's chock full of musical numbers for the chunky singer/songwriter/guitarist. Since the lovable character he plays was the leader of his church choir and a star in amateur theatricals, Black gets to belt out gospel and bring down the house with a knockout rendition of "76 Trombones."
Should't be a surprise. After all, Black's other job is being awesome as half of Tenacious D, the acoustic/metal comedy duo self-described as "the greatest band on Earth." Black and co-conspirator Kyle Gass just released their third album, a crazed tribute to cheesy Eighties power rock titled "Rize of the Fenix." And they're kicking off an international tour to support it, from the Sasquatch festival in Oregon to Chicago, new York, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K. "Basically we're doing the whole world," he said in a phone interview last week. The complete schedule is here.
"Bernie" may have a second life as a full-on musical if MacLaine gets her way.
"She was really into it, saying we have to take this movie to Broadway," Black said. "Can you imagine me murdering Shirley MacLaine as a musical? It could be really heavy and funny at the same time. That's on my bucket list, to hit Broadway in a classic musical some day."
In the meantime, Black can't get enouch of the new Tom Waits album "Bad As Me." "I don't think anyone touches Tom Waits for artistic depth and integrity," he said. "The dude is a monster. He's the real deal. He's one of those where you go, 'Okay, in a hundred years they're still gonna be listening to Tom Waits.' I don't know about the rest of 'em. But for me, he's way up there above everybody else."
