The Origins of Jesus Christ Superstar

The opening three chords to Jesus Christ Superstar immediately bring to mind the title of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit musical.

Jesus Christ… Superstar…

Taking one of the most widely referenced stories in history, that of Jesus Christ himself, and turning it on his head in what would become one of the most well-known musicals of all time is a high-stakes risk to take, but Andrew Lloyd Webber, along with Joseph collaborator Tim Rice, did exactly that It may seem obvious to most where the idea came from but, like all good stories, there’s more to the origins of Jesus Christ Superstar than meets the eye.

In 1968, following the success of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tim Rice and Andrew toyed with the idea of writing a story about Moses. The idea stemmed from a tune that Andrew had written on a napkin whilst dining in a London restaurant. This melody would go on to become the tune of Superstar.

Initially the scribblings didn’t go anywhere until the duo began exploring the concept of dramatising Jesus’s final days from the perspective of Judas. The scribbled chords were resurrected, and Superstar was born!  

At the time though, many traditional theatre producers didn’t have as much faith in a rock opera based on a bible story. However, Jesus and religion were experiencing a wave of popularity in pop culture, prompting Tim and Andrew to discuss whether their idea had mainstream potential.

Tim Rice had previously discussed the project with Mike Leander an established music producer and A&R at MCA Records. Leander saw the potential in the concept even if it was a bit bold and risky. In 1969, Tim and Andrew were given the chance to record a single of the title track “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The song was performed by Murray Head (who would later play Judas on the full album) and released by MCA Records. It was unconventional, blending different genres: symphony orchestra, soul, gospel, rock and blues, and it found an audience quickly. There was something for everyone.

The success of the single helped create a strong argument for the recording of the full concept album. Following its release in October 1980, the album reached ‘gold status’ ($1 million in sales) in less than 3 weeks, confirming that there was a broad passionate audience for their rock concept album, and in particular in the US.  

When a number of unauthorised concert performances of the album took place around the US, producer Robert Stigwood advised that the best way to regain artistic control was to launch a large-scale, official tour. The success of the tour ultimately paved the way for a fully-fledged musical production. In a momentous first for Tim and Andrew, Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway on 12 October 1971 to critical acclaim, before opening on the West End the following year.  

The success of the Broadway production solidified Jesus Christ Superstar as a cultural phenomenon. Its rock-infused score, controversial themes, and bold approach to biblical material made it stand out from other musicals at the time, opening the door for future rock operas and changing the landscape of musical theatre forever. The musical continues to be beloved by audiences and has come to life again in many forms since its premiere, including global productions from Australia to Japan, numerous film adaptations, a legendary revival starring Tim Minchin and even a talent show!

The musical captured the rock roots that defined a generation and continues to speak to and dazzle audiences around the world for its spectacular twist on a universally-known tale.

Fascinatingly, this isn’t the only one of ALW’s musicals that began as an album.  

Enjoy the origin story of Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat and coming soon...the origin story of Evita, both of which were also concept albums.