Jack Black Absolutely Shredded a Minecraft Guitar in His Tonight Show Entrance
The A Minecraft Movie star took his air guitar solo into the audience and talked hosting Saturday Night Live for his first time in 20 years this weekend.
Whether he's lip-syncing like a champ or playing that Sax-A-Boom, Jack Black always makes his mark during a Tonight Show visit. And the A Minecraft Movie star's March 31 appearance was no exception.
Upon Jimmy Fallon's introduction, Black stepped into Studio 6B axe-first, bringing the Tonight Show audience to their feet with a blistering guitar solo. Was his electric guitar plugged in? Well, no; it might have been The Roots' guitarist "Captain" Kirk Douglas actually playing. But does Slash's solo from the 1987 Guns N' Roses hit "Sweet Child O' Mine" still rip? Definitely — and Black is, of course, an ace air-guitar artist.
"You bring the heat! You bring the energy!" Fallon said as Black sat down.
"What I didn't bring is a belt," Black laughed, catching his breath.
You might've also noticed Black's prop guitar was a pixelated Minecraft-style edition. That's because, in addition to acting in A Minecraft Movie, the actor, comedian and musician created original music for the film with Barbie composers Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. And it's a full circle moment for Black, as his very first acting gig was a video game commercial for Atari's "Pitfall."
As proof, Fallon shared the ad, featuring a 13-year-old Jack Black. Is it us, or does he kind of look exactly the same (minus the beard)? Watch it, and Black's blazing Tonight Show entrance, above.
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Jack Black talks hosting SNL for his first time in 20 years on April 5
Black's Monday night sit-down on the talk show marks the first of six days he'll spend in 30 Rock this week, as he prepares to host SNL on April 5 with Musical Guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile.
"It's insane," Black told Fallon, sharing his excitement for the "incredible" John and Carlile's performances. It's the Kung Fu Panda actor's first time hosting since 2005(!).
"Dude, the first time I hosted, because I've hosted thrice — I don't want to toot my own horn, thrrrice!" Black said. "I remember, it was like 25 years ago, and I think the musical guest was The Strokes. Do you remember?"
Black's recollection is correct, and he shared another memory from that time: Meeting Fallon, then an SNL cast member, when he was opening for The Strokes.
"It was my favorite thing, because we were opening for The Strokes, and I was singing "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
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"Yes!" said Black.
"I don't even know if it was around Christmastime, but you were in the audience, and I saw you," Fallon continued. "And I go, 'Dude, we're doing 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' if you want to get on stage." Black did, and of course, he "crushed it" per Fallon.
Watch Jack Black crush it as a fourth-time SNL Host on April 5, 2025, at 11:30 ET/PT on NBC and Peacock.
