Comments on: Heaven On Their Minds

Heaven On Their Minds

Addlepated — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:01:10 -0800

The opening song from Jesus Christ Superstar has been sung by many people. Here are some of them.

Murray Head from the 1970 official soundtrack Carl Anderson from the 1973 movie (Anderson died from leukemia at the too-young age of 58; here he is performing the song circa 2002) Ben Vereen from the original 1971 Broadway production Jay Laga'aia from the 1994 New Zealand production Zubin Varla from the 1996 London revival James Booth from Solebury School (a fantastic slow version) A passionate performance from an unknown amateur production Matthew G. Myers in the touring production c. 2008 Queensrÿche from their 2007 "Take Cover" album Tenacious D, a medley with Flash and Wonderboy American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis in 2007 Roger Daltrey in a 1996 radio production Scotto Pesce from DJ Christ, Superstar at Burning Man 1999 (dance remix) Feathersgirl from 2007, one of the few female versions on YouTube Want to have a go at it yourself? Here's the Karaoke version Want some dessert? How about Alice Cooper singing King Herod's song from 1996?

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:03:16 -0800

I thought about apologizing in advance to all the Andrew Lloyd Webber haters, but decided not to. Heck with 'em. I like this show.

By: secondhand pho

secondhand pho — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:06:13 -0800

Related: Godflesh Superstar The synchronicity rivals anything found in "Dark Side of the Rainbow".

By: villanelles at dawn

villanelles at dawn — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:08:43 -0800

I count myself among the Andrew Lloyd Webber haters but Jesus Christ Superstar is beyond criticism. Amazing music, and the movie version has some truly incredible performances (especially Judas) and freaky cool desert chic sets.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:11:04 -0800

And Murray Head still roundly kicks the ass of all comers. JCS is one of the best things ever, and thanks for reminding me that I was going to try to find another LP copy. Related previously.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:14:18 -0800

Oh, and just to be Sister Mary Elephant, the accept-no-substitutes 1970 original issue isn't a soundtrack or cast album.

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:15:01 -0800

FelliniBlank - my post in the previous thread sort of explains where this one came from. Carl Anderson was so gracious to me, and his talent was so abundant 30 years after his film performance, and I've been fixated on the Judas role since I was a little tyke. The song gives me goosebumps.

By: facetious

facetious — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:25:24 -0800

i could care less about andrew lloyd weber but the jcs soundtrack is one of the best records made in the 70's, not even debatable

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:30:08 -0800

Mea culpa, I did mistype on the 1970 album!

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:37:32 -0800

An I-was-there moment: A weirdo mishmash of artists, featuring the Indigo Girls (with Amy Ray as Jesus and Emily Saliers as Mary Magdalene). There was a 2-CD cast recording, and then there was this live performance in Austin in 1995 or '96. Yep, I was there.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:39:45 -0800

On a date. With the bad lesbian mullet! Not on a date with the mullet. But on a date. And sporting a mullet. Bad lesbian.

By: CheeseDigestsAll

CheeseDigestsAll — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:40:53 -0800

I agree, I'll give ALW a pass for this show, if nothing else. One of my favorite memories is a version done in San Jose featuring a Jim Baker character as Herod with a series of dancing Tammy Fayes accompanying Herod's Song.

By: Decani

Decani — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:55:31 -0800

i could care less about andrew lloyd weber posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19 No.

By: facetious

facetious — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:50 -0800

i could care less about andrew lloyd weber posted by facetious at 6:25 AM on July 19 No. posted by Decani at 12:55 AM on July 19 [+] [!] Yes! 1. "I could care less" is a contraction of "As if I could care less"! 2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak. Take your pick!

By: tzikeh

tzikeh — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:03:29 -0800

From the Indigo Girls' album of Jesus Christ Superstar called Jesus Christ Superstar: A Resurrection: Michael Lorant, a frequent collaborator with Indigo Girls and a member of Big Fish, singing the opening song. I adore his interpretation--and he accompanies himself on guitar. (That should be a YouTube embed that should play here on the page--I don't know why it isn't. Warning: the album is great. It was... not meant to be played out on stage with costumes and stuff. Don't know why they did it.) This video is from a live performance, but the album was recorded in a studio. Some of the songs have been slightly reinterpreted musically; some vastly reinterpreted (Simon Zealot's song, in particular, is awesome as sung by Kelly Hogan). Basically, the Indigo Girls got a bunch of musician friends from Atlanta and said "What the hell; we all love the piece--let's do it." Cast: Cast (in order of appearance): Judas Iscariot - Michael Lorant Jesus Christ - Amy Ray Mary Magdalene - Emily Saliers Priests (1 And 3) - Paul Schwartz Caiaphas, High Priest - Benjamin Annas - Mike Mantione Priest 2 - John Bigay Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan Pontius Pilate - Gerard McHugh Choir, Maid By The Fire - Anne Richmond Boston Peter - Matt Brown Soldier 1 - Jeff Jenson Old Man - Bill Decker Soldier 2 - Rob Gal King Herod - Dave Clair Voice Of Judas - Social Insanity The Official Website. Buy the album (I don't know how to do the MetaFilter Amazon link.)

By: tzikeh

tzikeh — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:04:26 -0800

On lack of preview - what mudpuppie said. Still - Lorant's voice and guitar work is exceptional.

By: cmonkey

cmonkey — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:11:56 -0800

And the dessert that you have after dessert: Laibach

By: homunculus

homunculus — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:20:55 -0800

Jesus Christ Dinosaur

By: freebird

freebird — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:24:27 -0800

I've been what most people would call an atheist all my life - Jesus Christ Superstar finally made me appreciate the Jesus story, and I'm glad. If you can get away from all the crap that folks have piled on to it, it's a great story. Plus JCS is a rocking piece of music. This is neat!

By: This_Will_Be_Good

This_Will_Be_Good — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:30:53 -0800

Great post! Huge JCS fan, and I haven't seen some of these. The brothers Bob and Danny Zolli both have some of the best performances from Superstar I have ever seen or heard. I just did a quick scan on youtube looking for performances and was able to dig up a bit. Here is Bob Zolli's version of Heaven on Their Minds. (I have no idea what that animation is that is playing under the video.) His phrasing on the last lines ("On Thursday night...") in "Damned for All Time/Blood Money" (which I can't find), is the best I have ever heard (it's this odd arabic trill vibrato riff thingy -- I don't know what the musical term is, so I'm sorry I can't find it). His brother Danny Zolli is amazing as well -- here is Danny Zolli performing Gethsemane. After listening to the original cast recording a million times, it is always odd to hear variations in phrasing, but what he does with certain parts (and screams) is just awesome -- and he makes it looks effortless. Beyond the amazing screaming at 2:45, even if you have listened to it a million times by others, listen to what he does around 4:56 on. Even though it is far more subtle than the big screamin' awesome part, for some reason that always gets me how he drags those notes out.

By: Lazlo

Lazlo — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:39:43 -0800

Even as a lifelong atheist, I've loved this show since I was 14. (It probably doesn't hurt that I was introduced to it by my first crush.) Apparently at least some of the "Mr. Show" writers share the love. Also: The KLF take the "Heaven" riff and run with it.

By: luckynerd

luckynerd — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:59:19 -0800

Loved the Cooper version! :) An ex boyfriend was obsessed with JCS the last half of our relationship. While I agree it's great, it's difficult for me to listen to it now because it brings back memories I'd rather not dwell on. Maybe one day I'll be able to listen to it again.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:40:12 -0800

Loved the Cooper version! :) Well, he is a true believer, and has been for three decades now. He has avoided "celebrity Christianity," because "it's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a philosopher. I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians. So, don't look for answers from me."

By: neckro23

neckro23 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:48:31 -0800

> The KLF take the "Heaven" riff and run with it. Didn't realize the "What Time is Love?" riff was stolen until now, but it makes sense. The riff so nice, they used it four times! 1988, ca. 1990, 1992, 1997.

By: Apropos of Something

Apropos of Something — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:51:41 -0800

Andrew Lloyd Weber was pretty good a few weeks ago on Comedy Bang Bang. He and Weird Al traded songwriting tips.

By: readyfreddy

readyfreddy — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:58:38 -0800

No love for Kim Milford?

By: Lazlo

Lazlo — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:05:27 -0800

Didn't realize the "What Time is Love?" riff was stolen until now, but it makes sense. I didn't realize it either, until Bill Drummond mentioned it when I was interviewing him around the time The White Room came out. (I think I squealed a little.)

By: Summer

Summer — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:28:16 -0800

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy should I die? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy should I diiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee? Seeeee seeee seee how, see how I diiiiiieeeeeeeee. Oh yeah, see how I diiiiieeeeee. I like to think that's how the conversation between God and Jesus really went in the garden of Gethsemane.

By: deep thought sunstar

deep thought sunstar — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:18:49 -0800

I watched the 1973 Jesus Christ Superstar when I was seven years old. No, hell no, my parents didn't show it to me (or the rest of the 2nd-graders in the room). The nuns at the Catholic school I went to felt that 7-year-olds needed to see that. With ZERO intellectual context, ZERO guidance, just "You're gonna watch this!" I was seven years old. I gotta say, I thank the OP of this post for putting this together. I always had the music stuck in my head a bit. Never could find it again until now. I asked my parents why they were all pretty modern-looking (I was born in 1978, school showed me this show in 1983), and they said "stop asking questions" I was seven years old. I'm still Catholic, but not because of them.

By: deep thought sunstar

deep thought sunstar — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:20:24 -0800

No, I was 7 in 1984! Not '83. My bad.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:22:36 -0800

The only compelling reason to become an actor, in my opinion, is to get a chance at delivering that line "He'd have caused nobody harm; no one alarm" line even half as well as Head and Anderson do.

By: ShutterBun

ShutterBun — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:38:21 -0800

One of my first attempts at making an "electro" type song was to create a version of "The Crablouse" by Lords of Acid, but replacing the riff with the opening from Heaven On Their Minds. That riff, plus the 7/4 bridge, and the fact that Murray "Judas" Head also sang "One Night In Bangkok" was enough to convince me to forgive A.L.W. for all his future atrocities. Great stuff.

By: ShutterBun

ShutterBun — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 02:53:24 -0800

(errr...7/8 bridge, now that I think about it)

By: h00py

h00py — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:06:53 -0800

Jon English performing this song in 1972. I've also been a major fan of this musical from a very young age and I'm an atheist too! I have to say, though, that I think Carl Anderson was the quintessential Judas. His voice is amazing.

By: Skygazer

Skygazer — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:29:40 -0800

The title version that I will forever hear in my head is the rhyme from grade school (and this is to the Jesus Christ "Superstar" theme music. . (I employ a Shatner-esque type speak-sing phrasing. You know what I mean.) The BOLD indicates the choir chiming in: Jesus Christ, Superstar Riding down the street...on a Yamaha Cops are there I don't care I'm wearing my bullet proof...underwear. When I die bury me hang my balls on a cherry tree When they're ripe... take a bite Don't blame me IF YOU DIE THAT NIGHT. *Takes bow, ducks avalanche of flowers and frilly undergarments *

By: hippybear

hippybear — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:25:56 -0800

I thought about apologizing in advance to all the Andrew Lloyd Webber haters, but decided not to. Well, in all fairness, JCS isn't really Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's Webber/Rice, and they did wonderful things together. Webber really didn't become Andrew Lloyd Webber until well after Evita (another brilliant Webber/Rice show). During my summers at music camp, there was a group of us who used to gather during afternoon free time in the parlor-type room attached to the dining hall building and do sing-alongs. I had a piano score to JCS and we'd do it pretty regularly. It didn't have all the songs, but it had enough of them that we could easily kill an hour. Between Heaven On Their Minds and Gethsemane, we either completely entertained or utterly infuriated the kitchen staff as they worked on dinner.

By: I-baLL

I-baLL — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:32:51 -0800

I think we all know that Jesus Christ Superstar was just a cheap knock-off of the infamous 70s piece "AD/BC".

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:40:04 -0800

Simon Zealotes - Kelly Hogan Great casting!

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:42:51 -0800

Jesus Christ, Superstar Riding down the street...on a Yamaha From the same minds that brought us: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord He is driving down the alley in a black and yellow Ford With one hand on the throttle and one hand on a bottle Of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer

By: schyler523

schyler523 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:13:19 -0800

When I saw the post, I wondered how people would sing the overture...but then realized what you meant.

By: Summer

Summer — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:49:04 -0800

I first encountered JCS in primary school when our music teacher made it a piece for the choir. Imagine a group of 8 year olds singing Heaven on Their Minds.

By: cider

cider — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:50:08 -0800

Love JCS, and can't wait to listen to some of these! Thanks, Addlepated! If anyone is near southern Ontario this summer/fall, I urge you to run to the Stratford Festival to see their production. I saw it in previews, and it was absolutely incredible.

By: imposster

imposster — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:11:21 -0800

Reminded me of this: Paul Desmond and the Modern Jazz Quartet, "Jesus Christ Superstar"

By: Yer-Ol-Pal

Yer-Ol-Pal — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:12:07 -0800

Did the show myself a few years back. Wanted to be Herod, but got the role of Pilate. Bad guys are SO much more fun to portray!

By: Homeskillet Freshy Fresh

Homeskillet Freshy Fresh — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:12:58 -0800

Went to Chicago just last year to catch Peaches Christ Superstar, which turns to the play into a one-woman musical starring raunch auteur Peaches in every role.

By: ricochet biscuit

ricochet biscuit — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:18:01 -0800

Well, in all fairness, JCS isn't really Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's Webber/Rice, and they did wonderful things together. Webber really didn't become Andrew Lloyd Webber until well after Evita (another brilliant Webber/Rice show). Hippybear (and before him, villanelles at dawn) has it right. What makes Superstar so compelling is the lyrical input from Tim Rice; the music was great, but lacking the characterization that came out in the words, it is just pleasant, hummable stuff. I would run a mile in tight shoes to avoid just about anything else from Andrew Lloyd Webber, but I have seen at least a dozen different productions of JCS (including a touring one in the nineties with Neeley and Anderson). I must have seen the movie thirty times by now, most recently last week. I have been known to utter the words "Hey, cool it man," in a limpid voice when the occasion calls for it. When my friend Mary hosted a dinner party once I tried her soup and said, "Mary, mm, that is good." In short, I am a fan. I read an interview with Rice years ago that gave us a glimpse of What Might Have Been. Rice mentions that Webber had already written some music and had the idea to do a rock opera with a biblical basis. Before they began collaborating, Webber's idea was to go Old Testament and base it on 1 Samuel. The song that we now know as "Superstar" went: Samuel,/ Samuel,/ This is the first book of Samuel./ Ack.

By: jeather

jeather — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:23:21 -0800

I went to a Jewish school (and, earlier, Jewish preschools) up until grade 4 (even grades 5&6 my new school was 90%+ Jewish), and they did not do so much of the comparative religion stuff. So I knew that Christmas had a tree and Santa and presents and stuff and on Easter we had two days off and often went to Boston, but I had no idea about anything actually theologically significant. Say something like "died for our sins". I also saw a lot of summer stock theatre then. And one summer -- I believe the summer after grade 3 -- my parents brought me to Jesus Christ Superstar. ("Don't tell the school you saw it.") And the version I saw was particularly pro-Judas, Jesus-as-asshole. This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity.

By: edheil

edheil — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:30:31 -0800

I was going to be upset you left out Laibach, but they didn't cover Heaven On Their Minds.

By: popechunk

popechunk — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:44:30 -0800

Scratch Acid's version of "Damned For All Time"

By: swift

swift — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:45:38 -0800

Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok".

By: ThatCanadianGirl

ThatCanadianGirl — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:53:24 -0800

Thanks so much for posting this! I love everything about this show. Every time I see the movie now I notice how sunburned everyone is in the Simon Zealot dance number, and I wonder if they weren't just fainting from heat and exhaustion between takes. This long coloured my interpretation of Christianity. Same here, jeather.

By: Gungho

Gungho — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:56:02 -0800

Gary Cherone of Extreme played JCS and Judas in several Boston Rock Opera versions. I'm pretty sure Kay Hanley played Mary during at least one production. She is in the chorus in the first link.

By: freecellwizard

freecellwizard — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:11:12 -0800

I can't help but think of my old Chapel Hill comedy troupe friends' silly take: Jesus Christ Superstore.

By: cereselle

cereselle — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:29:34 -0800

Corey Glover of Living Colour playing Judas. The husband is a huge fan of JCS and of Living Colour, so when this tour happened we were there, even though we had to fly to another city to see it. And that's Ted Neely, once again, as Jesus.

By: Teppy

Teppy — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:51:23 -0800

Though from the title you'd assume it was a joke album, The Indelicates' "David Koresh Superstar" is a remarkable concept album. Yes, it's a musical based on the life of David Koresh and the siege at Waco Texas, but it's done in a respectful way, very much unexpected.

By: Decani

Decani — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:06:51 -0800

1. "I could care less" is a contraction of "As if I could care less"! 2. "I could care less" is a conscious pedant-tweak. Take your pick! posted by facetious at 7:00 AM on July 19 I'll go for: 3. Contractions that reverse the meaning of the contracted expression are stupid, and make those who use them sound stupid. Also, using correct as opposed to incorrect constructions is not pedantry; it's caring about language and whether or not you want to look stupid.

By: Liquidwolf

Liquidwolf — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:30:35 -0800

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus.

By: luminous phenomena

luminous phenomena — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:37:51 -0800

And another King Herod dessert: Rik Mayall of "The Young Ones" and "Bottom" fame. It's creepily delicious.

By: Liquidwolf

Liquidwolf — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:38:57 -0800

I think Jesus Christ Superstar is my favorite G rated movie that explicitly displays a hash pipe.

By: Seekerofsplendor

Seekerofsplendor — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:13:33 -0800

"Even the addicts are saying, 'It doesn't matter how many drugs I take, I'm not fulfilled. This isn't satisfying.' There's a spiritual hunger going on. Everybody feels it. If you don't feel it now, you will. Trust me. You will... Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's rebellion." Thanks to the person who posted the Alice Cooper interview. Good stuff.

By: lysimache

lysimache — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:40:37 -0800

My favorite version (besides the untouchable original concept album version) is a concert production from Vienna, with Serkan Kaya (a Turkish-German musical actor; he plays Luigi Lucheni in the DVD of the Vienna revival cast of Elisabeth with Maya Hakvoort) as Judas. He's brilliant.

By: tzikeh

tzikeh — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:43:55 -0800

swift: Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok". Funnerer fact: Murray Head is Anthony Stewart Head (Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Uther on Merlin)'s brother. ASH is also quite the singer, and took over the role of "The American" in Chess (the character who sings "One Night in Bangkok") when Murray left the show. Anthony Stewart Head singing "Sweet Transvestite" at the 2006 Rocky Horror Tribute Show (he had played the role twice in the West End). Anthony Stewart Head singing an acoustic version of "Behind Blue Eyes" while accompanying himself on guitar, in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Where the Wild Things Are." You're welcome.

By: Decani

Decani — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:15:29 -0800

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus. posted by Liquidwolf at 4:30 PM on July 19 Confession time: the first long playing record I ever bought was Jesus Christ Superstar: original soundtrack featuring Ian Gillan. The "Sun sleeve" version. I sold it during a period of financial desperation and punk puritanism. I wish I hadn't.

By: philip-random

philip-random — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:16:22 -0800

Afghan Whigs vs The Temple

By: philip-random

philip-random — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:23:23 -0800

I can't believe no one has mentioned Ian Gillan from Deep Purple as Jesus. Well, I was planning on getting to that. The Deep Purple song that forever convinced me that maybe Ian Gillan was Jesus. The "proof" starts kicking in around the 2 minute point but it takes better part of a minute to truly manifest. wait for the ricochet

By: duvatney

duvatney — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:19:37 -0800

No love for Tony Vincent? I love his version.

By: stennieville

stennieville — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:43:52 -0800

True story, I grew up listening to the original 1970 concept album (the "Brown Album") and used to act out the entire show with my stuffed animals. Judas has always been, far and away, my favorite character. I saw that Indigo Girls concert in Seattle, I think. Great show, fun interpretation. Herod was awesome. A buddy of mine played Pontius Pilate in the touring company in the mid-90s, with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. I believe my buddy started out as Annas early in the tour and later took over for Dennis DeYoung as Pilate when DeYoung left the tour.

By: Liquidwolf

Liquidwolf — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:59:15 -0800

philip-random , Yes! That version of Child in Time has been viewed many times by me on Youtube. Smoking solos on that one.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:08:42 -0800

We weren't an especially religious family, but we broke out the 1970's concept album every Easter. That was about as close as we ever came to doing anything church-like. I had the pleasure of meeting Yvonne Elliman a number of years ago and she is just a lovely person. So let's love on her a little, because Everything's All Right.

By: bibliowench

bibliowench — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:34:22 -0800

My father and his (Episcopal) seminary classmates used to sing this verse (refrain?) from "The Last Supper" at their parties, after they'd had a few. Look at all my trials and tribulations Sinking in a gentle pool of wine Don't disturb me now I can see the answers Till this evening is this morning life is fine Watching a group of future priests get drunk and silly on a regular basis has left with some fondness for the church, if not anything much in the way of belief.

By: hippybear

hippybear — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:02:35 -0800

Fun Fact: Murray Head from Jesus Christ Superstar is the same Murray Head who sang "One Night in Bangkok". Related Fun Fact: Tim Rice, who was the lyricist for JCS, also wrote the lyrics for CHESS, the musical which featured One Night In Bangkok. (The two guys from ABBA did the music.)

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:03:14 -0800

Corey Glover of Living Colour playing Judas. Holy shit, that's up there close to the Big Two. Glover's also pretty good at his day job.

By: Decimask

Decimask — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:16:41 -0800

Needs more gravelly earth-shaking bass from Caiaphas.

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:04:49 -0800

Cereselle, that Corey Glover performance made tears spring up in my eyes. Amazing. The blocking was great on the bridge, too, I thought - he looked as if he were walking through something giving him resistance, like he was in a bad dream.

By: Addlepated

Addlepated — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:39:36 -0800

I just found this Jerome Pradon performance from a 2001 video release that I never knew about, but is the same one that the Rik Mayall Herod's Song link above came from. I'm going to have to pick it up - it looks wonderful.

By: jeanmari

jeanmari — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:19:49 -0800

Related: Godflesh Superstar I haven't had a lot of sleep over the past few days, so I read this quickly as "GOLDFISH Superstar" and thought, "THAT IS AWESOME!" Now I am sad that Goldfish Superstar does not exist. Calling Cortex and Chococat...we have a songwriting clean-up in Aisle 5...

By: hippybear

hippybear — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:40:01 -0800

Goldfish Superstar This is his body, which was flushed for you...

By: kuppajava

kuppajava — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:20:09 -0800

Too bad there isn't a Shatner version! C'mon, Bill! My grade school rendition was this: Jesus Christ, Superstar Who in the hell do you think you are? People look People stare He's got bulletproof underwear At least grade school children every agree ... he's got bulletproof underwear!

By: purenitrous

purenitrous — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:18:47 -0800

We had the brown album when I was a child back in the 70s (well, we probably still have it somewhere) and my sister and I would sing and do little performances to it. Our basically non-religious family played it every Easter, and now I play it for my kids on our long drive to my aunt's for Easter dinner. And Gethsemane may be the thing that came to the closest in my life to tipping me into belief. It feels so real to me-Jesus not as a saintly, saccharine figure, but as an angry, agonizing man, choosing to be sacrificed anyway. Beautiful stuff. Thanks.

By: snottydick

snottydick — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:58:39 -0800

Since nobody's mentioned it... There is a Priest credited as Paul Raven on the original brown album, who sings the lines "Good Caiaphas, the council waits for you. The Pharisees and priests are here for you." Did you know that he went on to become this guy?

By: GatorDavid

GatorDavid — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:44:05 -0800

I got to play the part of "random Roman soldier" in a performance in LA a few years ago. I wanted to be Judas, of course. I wanted to be Peter, maybe. Or Herod! But no. I was nobody. Cursed for life because ... well ... Can't sing. Can't dance. But fuck all if I didn't love getting to deliver the line: Someone Christ, King of the Jews! (I also got to deliver the 39 lashes, but that was sort of painful for me every night.)