Tenacious D: "We rock as hard as we can"

(CBS News) Jack Black and Kyle Gass have been performing as the comedy-rock duo, Tenacious D, since 1994 -- long before Black achieved stardom on the screen.

From 1997 to 2000, the mock-rockers co-starred in an HBO-TV show based on Tenacious D. Then, in 2001, they released their first rock & roll album, which eventually went platinum, thanks in large part to the song, "Tribute." They're releasing their third album, "Rize of the Fenix," on May 15, 2012.

Tenacious D is back with new album and tour
The Official Tenacious D Site

Some retailers will be carrying a sanitized version of the racy album -- with the band's blessing -- called "Rize of the Fenix: Clean Version."

What's the motivation for the graphic lyrics?

"A lot of that comes from improvisation," said Gass. "We just 'press record' and this is what comes out."

"Kyle jams a riff and I try to let go the id," said Black. "Let loose the wild wildebeest in my subconscious. I don't think about if it's a dirty lyric."

Black said his movies, which include kid-friendly favorites like "School of Rock" and "Kung Fu Panda," are on the softer side compared to his rock facade.

"People have, I think, come to adjust to the fact that there are two Jack Blacks."

Tenacious D starts its world tour on May 23rd, in Santa Barbara.

"Rize of the Fenix" is released on Tuesday, May 15th.

To watch the full interview with Tenacious D, click on the video player above.