Jesus Christ Superstar is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centered on Judas, who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus is steering his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentional anachronisms.

Initially unable to get backing for a stage production, the composers released it as a concept album. The writers claim they had Ian Gillan, the lead singer of rock band Deep Purple, in mind when they composed the songs to be sung by Jesus. The success of the album led to the show's Broadway on-stage debut in 1971. By 1980, the musical had grossed more than $237 million worldwide. Running for over eight years in London between 1972 and 1980, it held the record for longest-running West End musical before it was overtaken by Cats in 1989.

Other rock and Broadway singers have taken over the role of Jesus through the years including Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame and of course Ted Neeley who played Jesus in the 1973 film version still performs the role to this day in various worldwide performances.

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