The two singers Jack Black always wanted to sing like: “A hybrid of those two”
There is a fine line between imitation and originality when it comes to art, and Jack Black is a great example of that.
While he is undoubtedly a comedy pioneer, he often uses his films to not-so-subtly draw out his musical talent. Be it School of Rock, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny or High Fidelity, there will likely be a scene in a Black movie, where he is spreading his operatic wings and descending into some sort of rock and roll monologue.
While doing it, we all marvel at the talent he possesses and wonder why he chose a career on the silver screen, as opposed to the bright lights of a stage. But if you listen closely, you’ll begin to realise that the reason his music career simply supplements his film career is that it veers too closely into the territory of imitation.
It’s something he’ll be willing to admit. School of Rock’s cult hero Dewey Finn was unashamedly a rip-off of all the classic rock musicians he worshipped, and Tenacious D were a real-life band who sought to comedically channel the talent of rock legends from yesteryear. Angus Young met Robert Plant as Black crafted his dream persona of rock royalty.
But two more musicians stood before those two as Black’s primary source of influence. When asked about his vocal style, he quickly answered, “My favorites were Ozzy Osbourne and Bobby McFerrin. I would’ve liked to have been a hybrid of those two,” he said.
Bobby McFerrin had that innate musicality that ultimately informed the comedic delivery of Black’s music, where a joke would quickly turn into an endless monologue of scatting. But Ozzy had that satanic rock and roll spirit that Black so clearly celebrated.
When Black was given the honour of inducting Ozzy Osbourne into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2024, he boldly titled The Prince of Darkness as “the greatest frontman in the history of rock and roll.”
“This motherfucker invented heavy metal,” Black yelled from the stage. “I’m talking to you 13-year-olds watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, all five of you. Sure, you could go stream Post Malone and Taylor Swift and get all the warm hugs you need for your broken hearts, or you can stay up all night and get your minds blown by Ozzy’s entire catalogue for the first time.”
Black’s rally cry brings me back to my opening statement, that in true art, there is a fine line between imitation and originality. Black has made no bones about referencing Ozzy as one of his all-time idols, and when you watch any of his musical performances, it’s plain to see.
Black is simply happy existing in the orbit of an Ozzy imitation. The Prince of Darkness, on the other hand, was solely concerned with creating something new and truthful to him, by innovating a new style of rock music and in turn, becoming the legend Black describes him as.
