All Photos: Alan Mercer
In 2013, Ted Neeley went back into the recording studio to record his album ‘Workin' For The Words,’ merging the raw and rootsy sounds of the American southwestern plains with the eclectic influences of a wider world. Then later in 2013, came the new digitally re-mastered production of his ‘1974 A.D.’ original vinyl album, distributed as a CD called ‘Ted Neeley 1974 A.D. / 2013 A.D.’. His music is available on iTunes, Amazon, and his web site.
Later in 2013, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the film Jesus Christ Superstar, Ted toured the US screening the new digitally re-mastered DCP print of the film. The screening events included a pre-screening audience Q&A and post-film meet and greet with special appearances by all of the principal cast members including Barry Dennen (Pontius Pilate), Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene), Kurt Yaghjian (Annas), Bob Bingham (Caiaphas), Larry Marshall (Simon), Josh Mostel (Herod), and choreographer Rob Iscove, in select cities. Carl Anderson was celebrated at each of the events.
Ted's EP ‘Rock Opera’ was released in April 2014. ‘Rock Opera’ highlights selected tracks from the original rock operas Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy, along with unique vocal collaborations with long time friends and Superstar co-stars, including Yvonne Elliman in their duet "Up Where We Belong", and with the late Carl Anderson, featured in the re-imagined "God's Gift To The World". The EP also includes an exclusive track of a live on-stage performance of "Gethsemane". ‘
In the spring of 2014, Ted was invited to Rome, Italy to perform as Jesus in the Peep Arrow Production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ directed by Massimo Romeo Piparo. The show also featured popular Italian rock band Negrita on stage during the performances along with a 12 piece orchestra. Negrita's frontman Pau played Pontius Pilate. The show ran for a few months in Rome and had such an overwhelming response from fans, it went on to tour all over Italy through May 2015. During the tour Ted reunited with his film co-stars Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen for a special one-night-only performance in the historic 12,000 seater Arena di Verona on October 12, 2014. The show sold out and they added a second show that night.
In the summer of 2014, Ted played the role of "The Publicist" in Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich's film ‘Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival.’ Other stars include Barry Bostwick, Adam Pascal, David Hasselhoff and Paul Sorvino, The film had its world premiere in Hollywood at the Egyptian Theatre August 11, 2015.
Ted Neeley continued his appearances. Following the JCS Italy tour, Ted has continued the special in-person anniversary JCS screenings. He now returns to Europe for the next leg of the 2016–2017 Jesus Christ Superstar Tour. Ted is also continuously in the recording studio so new music will be coming in the near future!
Please view my first blog with Ted Neeley here http://amprofile.blogspot.com/2013/05/ted-neeley.html
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Please view my first blog with Ted Neeley here http://amprofile.blogspot.com/2013/05/ted-neeley.html
AM: I am in love with the DVD ‘Superstars (The Making and Reunion of the Film).’ It’s a dream come true for any fan. How did you come up with this idea?
TN: We did a reunion in New York last April. The whole purpose was to get everyone together since we had not been together since we made the film. We combined it with honoring Norman Jewison, our magnificent director, and it was just outrageous.
AM: Who decided to film everything for DVD?
TN: Honestly, I filmed the event for myself. I wanted to have something of all of us, after forty some years all together again. We had three camera coverage, and then thought, “You know what? Somebody else might like this.” So, that’s what we did.
AM: That’s taking the bull by the horns!
TN: No question. For years, all of us at some time or another tried to work something out with Universal to honor Norman. If it wasn’t for Norman Jewison this film wouldn’t have happened. He’s not an unknown director. He’s made so many great films.
AM: I would say he’s a famous director. How did you end up hosting these screenings all over the country?
TN: I tried to put these film screenings together and was told the film was from a long time ago and they weren’t sure there would be an audience for it anymore. So, one day my business partner Frank and I are sitting around talking about it and he asked me where I would want to screen it. I said it would be great if we could get Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Just by chance, Frank had met the General Manager of the place two weeks earlier, so he called him. The guy said he was the biggest fan of the movie, so let’s do it! That was our first screening.
AM: And I was there!
TN: Yes, I know! Because we screened it there, it gave us some credibility. We like to screen it in classic theaters that have been around for a long time. So now the Theaters call us and ask if we are available for a certain night. The people go nuts over the film.
AM: I’ve been going nuts over it for forty years.
TN: And now we have that remastered digital print.
AM: You didn’t have that at Grauman’s did you?
TN: No, because of that screening Universal got interested in the film again.
AM: Doesn’t that make you feel good to do something like this?
TN: Yes!
AM: It’s never going away.
TN: We have four generations coming to see it. The audience is moms and dads and children. In Philadelphia, the first family I met who had the VIP tickets, had a six-year-old little boy. He was holding a teddy bear in one hand and the Superstar album in another. He kept looking at me and his mom told him to ask the question he wanted to and he asked me if I could still hit the high notes. (Laughter)
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AM: And you were happy to say yes!
TN: Absolutely.
AM: I know you are going to Europe to do the LIVE stage show. What is it like performing this show in Europe?
TN: Even more exciting than it is here. For example, I am in an Italian Production Company. I’m the only non-Italian in the show. I don’t speak Italian and they don’t speak English but we sing it in English because everybody over there wants to hear it in English.
AM: Where do you go first?
TN: We are going into Amsterdam. We were there last year for Christmas and New Year’s. The people from Amsterdam came over to Rome to see the production.
AM: How did you get involved in this European production?
TN: The director has been doing this show every Christmas and Easter for twenty years. In fact, it was the Twenty-Year Celebration and that’s why I was invited to join the cast.
AM: How long were you originally going to do the show?
TN: They wanted me for ten weeks in Italy. It’s some place I always wanted to go, so I said yes. We were there two years! Now we are going to Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. No matter where we play it becomes a rock concert. People end up jumping, screaming and hollering.
AM: Oh Wow! How inspiring for you!
TN: The producers from Amsterdam saw all this enthusiasm and decided to take the show. Then they told us the people of Holland are reserved and they will love the show but may not show it. Opening night in Holland and the audience went berserk! They were standing up and singing along. Some of these people saw it as children. Every night is a new experience for me.
AM: You have redefined what a career can be. There is magic involved.
TN: There’s no question. I go on stage every night. That’s the question I get the most, “Aren’t you getting tired of doing this same show?” This is a revitalization for me every single night! As long as it’s doing this for me I am going to continue to do it.
