Jack Black wants to set the record straight: He never said that Tenacious D, the rock band he fronts with partner Kyle Gass, is the greatest rock band in the world. Other people have said it, and if it's the truth, so be it.

"It was apparent that when me and Kyle were friends, walking down the street, it was like peanut butter and chocolate, lightning and thunder," Black says. "We're not just twice as powerful when we're together, but 10 times as powerful -- like a rock transformer."

The mix of comedy and rock magic that is Tenacious D first came to life on a short-run HBO series. After the network tried to turn them into "The Monkees," the group decided to go in a different direction. The result is the long-in-the-works movie, "Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny'." A cult and stoner movie before it ever hits theaters, the movie that chronicles the formation of the legendary band didn't have to wait long to find studio backing.

"It was easy when we were talking with New Line and we were saying, 'Let's make a $5-million movie. It'll be incredible. It'll be funny. We've got [expletive] enough fans already that's it's gonna make money'," Black says. "And then it expanded, and we said, 'Wait a second, it's actually more like 18 or 20 million'."

The studio's bet seems safe, especially because Black is coming off this summer's surprise hit "Nacho Libre" and also scored big box-office receipts with another rock-themed flick, "The School of Rock." Whether "The Pick of Destiny" is as kiddie-friendly as those movies remains to be seen.

"I got too high and I was paranoid that there were some SAG secret officials there that were gonna bust us for smoking real pot," Black says of the shoot.

High or not (bet on the former), Tenacious D will start a nationwide tour to coincide with the movie's release, but Black is a little concerned about what effect his new fans will have on the show.

"[It's] not really heavy metal to look out in the audience when you're tryin' to rock and there's a 'Shallow Hal' cardboard cutout," Black remembers from previous gigs. "They'll have 'Nacho Libre' posters next."

Trust us, Jack, you'd be much more embarrassed if they were holding "Saving Silverman" posters.

"Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny'" opens nationwide Nov. 22.