Tenacious D has cancelled the remainder of his 2024 tour in Australia and New Zealand

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After playing their first Australian show since 2013 in Sydney, Tenacious D have cancelled the remainder of their Australian and New Zealand dates on the two-man comedy rock band’s label. The spicy meatball The duo, aka Jack Black and Kyle Gass, kicked off their tour in Sydney, where a joke about Gass attempting to assassinate former US President Donald Trump sparked controversy. Their upcoming concert in Newcastle was initially postponed and then the entire tour was cancelled.

Black also put the band on hold, saying in a statement on social media that he was “caught off guard by what was said at Sunday’s show.”

“I will never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form. After careful consideration, I no longer believe it is appropriate to continue the Tenacious D tour, and all future creative projects are on hold. I am grateful to the fans for their support and understanding,” the Instagram post continued.

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Tenacious D last performed in Australia in 2013 and were due to play seven cities in July. The Grammy-winning duo, who formed as theatre students in Los Angeles in the 1990s, were due to perform in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Wellington and Auckland after sold-out shows in the US, UK and Europe in 2023.

Their Sydney show at the ICC Theatre in Sydney on Sunday 14 July fell on Gass’s birthday, with the musician being presented with a cake on stage by The Super Mario Bros Movie The Black star was then asked to make a wish. He replied: “Don’t miss Trump next time.”

Gass also issued a statement on social media. “The line I improvised on stage Sunday night in Sydney was highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake. I do not condone violence of any kind, against anyone,” he said on Instagram.

“What happened was a tragedy, and I am extremely sorry for my serious lapse in judgment. I offer my deepest apologies to those I have let down and sincerely regret any pain I may have caused.”

Ticket holders for cancelled Tenacious D shows in Australia and New Zealand will automatically receive refunds.

Tenacious D The spicy meatball Australia and New Zealand Tour Dates 2024:

Sunday 14 July — ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday 16 July — Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle — CANCELLED
Thursday 18 July — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane — CANCELLED
Saturday, July 20 — Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne — CANCELLED
Monday 22 July — Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide — CANCELLED
Wednesday 24 July — TSB Arena, Wellington — CANCELLED
Friday 26 July — Spark Arena, Auckland — CANCELLED

Tenacious D will no longer be touring Australia and New Zealand in July 2024, and all tickets will be automatically refunded. Visit the tour website for more details.

Top image: Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons.