Jack Black

The Headmaster of the School of Rock takes on a new role as a heavy metal roadie charged with saving the universe in the video game Brütal Legend.

By Jack Erwin; Photography by Chris Buck/Corbis

Jack Black’s voiced A Kung fu panda and even gotten his rom-com on in the past few years (or so we’re told—somehow we missed The Holiday), but we have no problem pigeonholing dude (ayo!): To us, he’s always best as the doughy, manically off-kilter “schlub” (his word) in flicks like Orange County and Tropic Thunder. So we were suitably stoked to hear about his playing a heavy metal roadie in Brütal Legend, a new open-world video game from Double Fine/EA. Legend’s writer, gaming cult hero Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango, Psychonauts), delved deep into metal mythology and peppered the game with allusions to the genre’s classics, even getting rock gods Lemmy Kilmister, Ozzy Osbourne, and Rob Halford to voice characters. We got with JB recently to talk VGs, metal, and how to rock into your 40s.

So how did you get involved in the game?

Jack Black: Tim Schafer contacted me; we met at a hotel, had sex, and then he told me about the video game…no, I’m kidding. I was staying at a hotel at the time, I don’t remember why. So we met—out by the pool, not in my bedroom. I was already a fan of his, because Psychonauts is an amazing game he did. It’s a classic.

A lot of hardcore gamers get skeptical when celebrities sign up to do games. What makes your involvement different?

Jack Black: I think the difference is I actually love games and I understand them.

You’ve got pretty decent heavy metal credentials, too.

Jack Black: Well, I’m drawn to old-school heavy met-tull, because I was there back in the day when it all went down.

You have a very distinctive way of saying “metal.”

Jack Black: I say “metal,” like “My car’s made of metal.” But if it’s the music, then you have to do something to distinguish it. “Met-tull.” Whoever invented that descriptive label for music is kind of a genius, ’cause when you say it, it’s like an ancient incantation.

What was your first concert?

Jack Black: I’m not going to tell you…OK, my first concert was actually Devo, “Freedom of Choice.” I wasn’t met-tull yet. My second concert, I think, was Loverboy. And that was not heavy met-tull. My first met-tull concert was Sabbath, but it was not the “Mob Rule” tour, which I wish it was. But whatever, I like-a me some Sabbath. I like-a me some Iron Maiden, and I really like-a me some Judas Priest. That’s the triumvirate of met-tull, when the world was a simpler place and the devil reigned supreme. Now there’s no devil in rock.

Did you study with any roadies to prep for the role?

Jack Black: Every time Tenacious D is on the road, we always see the same guy: Joe Beebe. I thought about Joe a lot while I was making the game. There’s a depth of emotion to the roadie—he’s come a million miles to stare into your eyes while you look off into the horizon. And you know that this road never ends. There’s a shyness to it, but there’s also a comfort. The dichotomy of the roadie. Profound.

You just turned 40. Are there any kinds of met-tull calisthenics you need to do to maintain that state of mind as you enter middle age?

Jack Black: Because I’ve always been sort of a schlub, I’ve actually improved my health, dramatically. Even though I’m 40, I can be in better shape than when I was 30, because I was in such a bad state then. I recommend that everyone in their youth be as out of shape as possible so that when you turn 40, people can go, “Wow, you look much better now.”

So if you listen to heavy metal and play video games, the day you turn 40 you’ll be as healthy as everyone else.

Jack Black: Is that all I’ve managed to impart to you? Don’t forget…I can’t remember. Yeah, you’re right. If I had to wrap it up I would say play video games, listen to met-tull, don’t exercise until you’re 39. And love thy neighbor.