Kyle Gass
Encyclopedia
Kyle Richard Gass also known as KG or Kage, is an American
rock musician
, singer-songwriter
and actor
. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D
and Trainwreck
. In Tenacious D (which also features Jack Black
), Gass plays lead guitar
and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil
in most of their comedy routines. He is the godfather of Jack Black's son.
, California
. Much like his musical career, Gass' acting career also started at a young age. His first gig was for a 7-up advertisement. Later in his career he met actor Tim Robbins
, who recruited him into the Actor's Gang
. Gass soon graduated from UCLA. In 1986, a 16-year-old Jack Black was one of the new recruits in the Actor's Gang, and the two were introduced. According to Gass, he actually did not like Black at first, but the duo eventually settled their differences and soon became best friends. Gass taught Black how to play guitar, and the two soon formed the band Tenacious D
.
. He has also made an appearance as a lawyer in the Good Charlotte
video for "Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous". Along with Black, Gass made a comedic appearance as a hapless airplane mechanic in the Foo Fighters
' 1999 video "Learn to Fly
."
Gass appeared in the comedy Elf
as a would-be children's author. Gass also made a cameo appearance with Michael Richards
in the Seinfeld
episode, "The Abstinence
". Gass has had small parts in many of Black's films (Year One, Kung Fu Panda
, Shallow Hal
, Saving Silverman
, The Cable Guy
, etc.). He has also appeared in Jacob's Ladder
with Tim Robbins. Gass also appeared in season 9 of Friends as a mugger, as the porn director in the 2008 teen sex film Extreme Movie, Walrus Boy in Wieners, and as the dirty trucker in the mens room in the 2008 film Sex Drive
. He co-starred in the movie Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, alongside Jack Black. In October 2008, Gass appeared as the character Decatur Doublewide in the film Lower Learning
.
Gass had a cameo role as a singing karaoke
cowboy in the 2007 movie Wild Hogs
. He auditioned for a role as a demon
in the pilot episode of Reaper
, directed by Kevin Smith
, but wasn't hired, to Smith's disappointment.
While appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
on November 15, 2006, Gass claimed to have been the youngest graduate of the Juilliard School of Music with a degree
in classical guitar
studies at the age of 13. It should be pointed out that Juilliard did not have a guitar program in 1973, but began its graduate level guitar program in 1989 under Sharon Isbin, and its undergraduate program in 2007. Earlier, in an article in the Sunday Times
on October 29, 2006, Black stated that Gass was the youngest graduate of Juilliard. On May 13, 2008, Gass was a phone in guest on the Adam Carolla Show. When Adam Carolla
asked him "... And did you go to Juilliard?" Kyle replied "I didn't. I—you know, I made that up as a joke," he continued "and I thought it would be hilarious, and then I've been hearing about it ever since. Apologies to Juilliard."
Gass is featured as a minor character in the 2009 video game Brütal Legend
(of which Jack Black plays the lead role), in which he portrays Kage the Cannoneer, a self-pitying giant in charge of a mortar cannon.
Gass is also currently starring in a web show entitled "Guitarings" with John Konesky
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is a member of the bands Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
and Trainwreck
Trainwreck (band)
Trainwreck is an American rock band, a project of Kyle Gass' alter-ego, "Klip Calhoun". The band is described as being part of Tenacious D's family, in that Gass, Konesky and Spiker all play for Tenacious D. In addition, Jason Reed also played a fundamental role in Tenacious D's 2006-07 Tour...
. In Tenacious D (which also features Jack Black
Jack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
), Gass plays lead guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and sings backup vocals, and also plays the role of Black's comic foil
Foil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
in most of their comedy routines. He is the godfather of Jack Black's son.
Early life
Kyle Gass was born in Castro ValleyCastro Valley, California
Castro Valley is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Much like his musical career, Gass' acting career also started at a young age. His first gig was for a 7-up advertisement. Later in his career he met actor Tim Robbins
Tim Robbins
Timothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the former longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
, who recruited him into the Actor's Gang
The Actors' Gang
The Actors' Gang is an experimental theatre group based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1981 by a group of actors, including Tim Robbins, now a member of the board and Artistic Director of the troupe. The group states its mission is "to create bold, original works for the stage and...
. Gass soon graduated from UCLA. In 1986, a 16-year-old Jack Black was one of the new recruits in the Actor's Gang, and the two were introduced. According to Gass, he actually did not like Black at first, but the duo eventually settled their differences and soon became best friends. Gass taught Black how to play guitar, and the two soon formed the band Tenacious D
Tenacious D
Tenacious D is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jack Black and lead guitarist and vocalist Kyle Gass, the band has released two albums – Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny...
.
Career
Gass was featured in several episodes of the television show Fear of a Punk Planet, which has since been released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
. He has also made an appearance as a lawyer in the Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
video for "Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous". Along with Black, Gass made a comedic appearance as a hapless airplane mechanic in the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
' 1999 video "Learn to Fly
Learn to Fly
For other results, see Learning to fly."Learn to Fly" is the first single from the Foo Fighters' third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose. It was released on two different singles in the UK in 1999...
."
Gass appeared in the comedy Elf
Elf (film)
Elf is a 2003 comedy film directed by Jon Favreau, written by David Berenbaum and starring Will Ferrell, James Caan, and Zooey Deschanel. It was released in the United States on November 7, 2003 and grossed over $220,400,000 worldwide.-Plot:A baby crawls into Santa Claus' sack while he is...
as a would-be children's author. Gass also made a cameo appearance with Michael Richards
Michael Richards
Michael Anthony Richards is an American actor, comedian, writer and television producer, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld....
in the Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
episode, "The Abstinence
The Abstinence
"The Abstinence" is the 143rd episode of the American sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 9th episode for the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC network on November 21, 1996.-Plot:...
". Gass has had small parts in many of Black's films (Year One, Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
, Shallow Hal
Shallow Hal
Shallow Hal is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Black, and Jason Alexander. It was directed by the Farrelly Brothers and filmed in and around Charlotte, North Carolina as well as Sterling and Princeton, Massachusetts at Wachusett Mountain.- Plot :Hal Larson is a...
, Saving Silverman
Saving Silverman
Saving Silverman is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan. It stars Jason Biggs, Steve Zahn, Jack Black and Amanda Peet. Neil Diamond has a cameo role playing himself...
, The Cable Guy
The Cable Guy
The Cable Guy is a 1996 black comedy film, directed by Ben Stiller, and starring Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick. The film also features Leslie Mann, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson...
, etc.). He has also appeared in Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder (film)
Jacob's Ladder is a 1990 American psychological thriller/horror film directed by Adrian Lyne, based on a screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin.-Plot:Jacob Singer is a U.S. soldier deployed in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War...
with Tim Robbins. Gass also appeared in season 9 of Friends as a mugger, as the porn director in the 2008 teen sex film Extreme Movie, Walrus Boy in Wieners, and as the dirty trucker in the mens room in the 2008 film Sex Drive
Sex Drive (film)
Sex Drive is a 2008 sex comedy film about a high school graduate who goes on a cross-country road trip to hook up with a girl he met online. It is based on the novel All the Way, by Andy Behrens. The film was directed by Sean Anders, and stars Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, Amanda Crew, and Katrina...
. He co-starred in the movie Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, alongside Jack Black. In October 2008, Gass appeared as the character Decatur Doublewide in the film Lower Learning
Lower Learning
Lower Learning is a 2008 comedy film starring Jason Biggs, Eva Longoria, Rob Corddry, Ryan Newman, Monica Potter, and Andy Pessoa. It was directed by Mark Lafferty and written by Lafferty and Shahin Chandrasoma...
.
Gass had a cameo role as a singing karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
cowboy in the 2007 movie Wild Hogs
Wild Hogs
Wild Hogs is a 2007 comedy film directed by Walt Becker and starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy. It was released nationwide in the United States and Canada on March 2, 2007, though preview film screenings were held in select areas on February 24, 2007.-Plot:Doug...
. He auditioned for a role as a demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
in the pilot episode of Reaper
Reaper (TV series)
Reaper is an American television series that focuses on Sam Oliver, a "reaper" who works for the Devil by retrieving souls that have escaped from Hell.The series originally ran on the CW from September 25, 2007 to May 26, 2009....
, directed by Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
, but wasn't hired, to Smith's disappointment.
While appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
on November 15, 2006, Gass claimed to have been the youngest graduate of the Juilliard School of Music with a degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
in classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
studies at the age of 13. It should be pointed out that Juilliard did not have a guitar program in 1973, but began its graduate level guitar program in 1989 under Sharon Isbin, and its undergraduate program in 2007. Earlier, in an article in the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
on October 29, 2006, Black stated that Gass was the youngest graduate of Juilliard. On May 13, 2008, Gass was a phone in guest on the Adam Carolla Show. When Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
asked him "... And did you go to Juilliard?" Kyle replied "I didn't. I—you know, I made that up as a joke," he continued "and I thought it would be hilarious, and then I've been hearing about it ever since. Apologies to Juilliard."
Gass is featured as a minor character in the 2009 video game Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
(of which Jack Black plays the lead role), in which he portrays Kage the Cannoneer, a self-pitying giant in charge of a mortar cannon.
Gass is also currently starring in a web show entitled "Guitarings" with John Konesky
John Konesky
John Konesky is an American guitarist who is known primarily for his association with Tenacious D. He plays electric guitar with Tenacious D, and has toured with them through North America, Europe and Australia. He played the UK's Reading and Leeds festivals with Tenacious D in 2008...