#48 Ted Neeley: Jesus Christ Superstar

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Jeff Dwoskin 0:15

All right, Barry, thank you so much for that amazing introduction. You get the show going each and every week. And this week is no exception. And you really brought the heat this week. Thank you so much, because this week is extra special. This is week 48 of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. I know that because I am your host, Jeff Dwoskin. And I keep track of such things. And this is going to be an amazing episode. We have Ted Neeley with us. That's right, Ted Neeley, you know and love him as Jesus Christ from jesus christ superstar, the live stage show and of course, the 1973 rock opera movie directed by Norman jewison. That's right, Jesus Christ Himself. Ted Neeley is here. And he is going to talk to us about making the movie and an amazing documentary that he just made, which is going to be released to correspond with the 48th anniversary of jesus christ superstar. The documentary called superstars 48th anniversary of the movie 40 a show of live in Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. Could that be a coincidence? It is. It's absolutely a coincidence. But I wanted to point it out. Anyway. It's a great conversation. You're gonna love it. Ted and I became quick friends, and had a great time talking. And that's going to come up in just a few minutes. But until that time, allow me to tell a huge thank you for subscribing and following my podcast on your favorite podcast app.

Jeff, are you singing that rock opera style? Yes, I am guilty, guilty as charged, trying to get you in the mood for the upcoming Ted Neeley interview. But I do want to thank everyone who subscribes and follows the podcast. I want to thank everyone who tells all their friends to subscribe to the Jeff Dwoskin show. Tell them you can check Jeff Dwoskin his podcast out on cashbox, Spotify, amazon music audible Audible, you're an audible isn't that the place with all the books? It is? how fancy am I? I know. Right? Okay, so tell you brands, they'll love you for it. I do also want to take this moment to thank Casey Ryan plot. He was our celebrity guest voice on episode 47. Check that out. That's the one with our bell. He created Comedy Central. And he talks all about creating Comedy Central. That's a pretty awesome one. I do want to thank Brian and Chrissy from the commercial break podcast for having me on as a guest. I'll share those links. When that goes live. That was super fun. And I want to thank everyone and remind everyone to join us every Wednesday at 9:30pm. Eastern Time for crossing the streams. That's right crossing the streams. It's the greatest live show ever in the history of the world that talks about TV shows that you should be streaming. That's right, me and a bunch of my pals and we have guests that come frequently. And we talk about great things that you should be watching. It's super fine. You can follow us on YouTube, the Jeff Dwoskin show channel, find that just search it up. It's also in the show notes a quick link or you can follow us on Facebook facebook.com slash Jeff is funny. If you follow those, you'll get notified when we go live. So I'll see you there.

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All right. Well, you know what, it's time for me to share my conversation with you that I had with Ted Neeley. It's a great conversation. We talked about Jesus Christ Superstar stage and screen, his cast mates what they've meant to him. He shares amazing stories. And we talk about the new documentary SuperstarS, which chronicles the making and lives of all the people involved with Jesus Christ Superstar Ladies and gentlemen, here's my conversation with Ted Neeley. Ladies and gentlemen, I am so excited to introduce you to my next gas, music sensation. Jc, the King of the Jews, you know him as Jesus from Jesus Christ Superstar... Ladies and gentlemen, Ted Neeley, Ted, welcome to the show.

Ted Neeley 7:08

Hey, thank you for letting me come here and be crazy with you.

Jeff Dwoskin 7:14

Oh, my God,

Ted Neeley 7:15

it's fun. It's so much fun to do these things, man to find out that people like you still appreciate it. And you know, we only put it out last year. Of course, it's a brand new movie, you know, Jesus Christ, you know, but think about that, that we're about to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the release of the film. And I'm still doing it and doing interviews and doing the show live and doing screenings. And it is absolutely the most wonderful experience of my

Jeff Dwoskin 7:40

life. It's incredible the passion that you have just so everyone listening, there's a new documentary coming out in August called superstars, which documents the making of the behind the scenes and lots of cool stuff. And Ted, we're going to talk a lot about it. And that's coming out to celebrate the on the 48th anniversary. So that's exciting. And yeah, so I want to talk about that. I want to talk about the movie, I want to talk about your experiences. Yeah, over these 48 years. It's, it's incredible.

Ted Neeley 8:09

This documentary is going to be streaming now people can actually watch it on TV, if they wish. It's an amazing world we live in now, isn't it? I can't believe it honestly. And in quite frankly, if it hadn't been for this crazy pandemic, we wouldn't have this because this is the first time in my life. I've not been out on the road for an entire year. So I was a boy scout in Texas when I grew up. And our motto of that was be prepared. So said I'm going to be prepared for when this thing is over. And we can go do new things. So now we've got this documentary and we Yvonne tonight. We're doing concerts now she and I and we were supposed to do our premiere concert last Easter in Boston. And the lockdown stopped us from doing it. So we're still waiting to do that. So I'm sorry, I can't wait to get back out there and hug people again.

Jeff Dwoskin 8:57

Yeah, you'd the two of your voices together. It's great. You use I know use some of the songs that you sing together in the documentary. And I immediately when re listen to that on amazon music.

Ted Neeley 9:07

It's just great. And she's she's a wonderful friend or her and very Denon to be on that original album as well as being in the film and then all the shows as well got this production of superstar brought so many people together, strangers, people who'd never met before and became the best and closest of friends. Incredible. Absolutely. And while we were in Israel making the film, Guess who I met over there? Would you meet the real Jesus came over to say hello? No, sorry. I'm sorry. I met the beautiful lady who became my wife. Oh,

Jeff Dwoskin 9:39

yeah. Sorry. You met your wife here. Yeah, yeah, of course. Yeah. Yeah. Leeyan, yes,

Ted Neeley 9:44

principal dancer. You can see her the most in Simon song. You know, Christ. You know, she does all those real high kicks that they freeze frame on is that you know, but she's in every sequence whether her dancers, he's got a close up of her with Herod right next to her when he goes to his sight overjoyed and there's the writer, anyway

Jeff Dwoskin 10:03

was when you met him, which was the movie was in the early 70s. Did you date the whole time because you got married in 1981 right

Ted Neeley 10:10

We were so overwhelmingly consumed by our experience in the film only thing we anybody ever got a chance to do is occasionally on a day off to have dinner and it was always several people it was never was any privacy no matter where you were so but we didn't date until we got back to America. absolutely incredible. And she still puts up with me now.

Jeff Dwoskin 10:32

I'd say so she knew to stick with you right away. When I'm not good, say, use this, the Jesus line and pick up all the chicks.

Ted Neeley 10:41

That's right, right, right. And of course, once once we shook hands and kind of made eye contact, whatever and it was obviously something happening between us. She had this baseball bat she was always said don't you get near me or I'll give you one you got to do what I want you to do. She's a great National Ballet of Canada, prima ballerina guru. She grew up in the National Ballet of Canada went to school there and Norman Jewison being from Canada and Robbie usko, who is the choreographer for the film, also from Canada brought some ladies over from Canada to join up.

Jeff Dwoskin 11:14

Well, no one nicer than the Canadians, right.

Ted Neeley 11:17

Oh, incredible, wonderful, sweet, wonderful people. Yeah, I love Canada. We've done the show live all over Canada. Incredible. You know where I was, for the last five and a half years before this pandemic happened? We're we're here in Europe

Jeff Dwoskin 11:32

doing the show live in Europe.

Ted Neeley 11:33

Yeah, I was invited to Rome to play the lead role in superstar. They were celebrating their 20th anniversary of doing superstore every year, Eastern Christmas, the director called me and said, Would you please consider joining us? And I said, Of course for how long? He said, Well, we'll need you for a four week rehearsal and a six week run. And I'm gonna say no, to get to go to Rome for 10 weeks, you know, so we went over and it ran for five and a half

Jeff Dwoskin 11:59

years you are where everyone thinks of when they think of Jesus. So that makes sense. No, no, and no normally kind of found someone who would you look just like them to your amazing voice and the spitting image. So let's go bc before you ended the role of Christ and let's let's work into that, and then about the movie and then kind of go through there. So you're already on Broadway with jesus christ superstar. Yes. And you originally wanted to be Judas.

Ted Neeley 12:30

That's exactly right. That's what I audition for Judas, literally.

Jeff Dwoskin 12:33

And Ben Vereen got that role, right. And then you were actually Jesus understudy. And you were you worked with Carl Anderson on that production, too. He was the Judas under study under Ben Vereen. So that's interesting. So you were part of Jesus Christ Superstar even before you did the movie?

Ted Neeley 12:48

Yes, absolutely. We did the Broadway show in 1971. That's when it started. And we shot the film and 72 it came out in 73. But Carl had been on the very first world premiere tour, live concert tour of superstar in America. And he was Judas in that before that Broadway show. So that's why there was a possibility for him to be Judas in possibility for me, but we both got here we say shout out a line in New York. But doing it ever since always, until the best,

Jeff Dwoskin 13:21

what was it about the Judas role that you want to go for that role?

Ted Neeley 13:26

First and foremost, I did not want to even attempt to portray, shall we say the most well known human in history, because everybody has an opinion and all that what it is and what it should be. I didn't think about that. I just listened to the music and those songs. I wanted to sing those songs so badly. Because I love singing those kind of songs. I say love balance, too. But that's what I wanted to sing no side. Plus, nobody knows anything about Judas except what he allegedly did. So it was an open field to create a character you see, and oh my god. You started to believe. And then here comes Carl Anderson. Oh, my god the way he did those songs. And I was his biggest fan. You know, amazing and great human being crazy. Funny guy. We had so much fun. It's just incredible. I miss him like crazy.

Jeff Dwoskin 14:17

He's been gone a while it's it's quite a loss. Young. We've lost Barry Dennen and Barry just a few years ago. Yeah, yeah. It's a lovely tribute that you have at the end of the superstars today. Yeah, yeah, I can imagine that hesitation trying to get a role of Jesus Christ. I mean, just now like society the way we argue about who's playing Batman. Right. There's like, some people you could assume within have some opinions on Jesus Christ.

Ted Neeley 14:46

Yeah, cuz everybody in a world where is it? You know, a critic of whoever tries to beat Jesus, you know, and there'd been so many wonderful actors who portrayed it before and other movies gone comparisons. You know, that's why I thought dude So come out of the darkness, you know, on the VA created a whole new thing you know? But boy, what Carl did for all of us with that voice and his ability and his personality. Magnificent.

Jeff Dwoskin 15:12

All of you guys have powerhouse voices you. Yeah, I mean, like it was quite a collection of voices to come together like that.

Ted Neeley 15:20

How about the collection of just Caiaphas and Annas You know, ah Gentleman. What can that do about those two voices together? Oh, curtain Bob. They were in the Broadway show as well. So they didn't even have to audition for the film Norman Jewison had seen the Broadway show and he put him in the film because he what he saw on stage in New York, so it was all perfect. So I'm gonna I'm gonna shut up and let you talk. I'm sorry, man.

Jeff Dwoskin 15:47

No, I want to hear you're here. I want to hear you tell a guy. You're my guest. Alright. so you're in Jesus Christ Superstar. I know that when you first came across Norman Jewison. You were in Tommy? Right. Another rock opera. You're. You're into the rock operas. Oh, yeah. And so the whole idea was, which I thought was great was you'd said, Don't tell me when Norman's coming. I just don't want to get nervous about it. Right. And of course, the one day he shows up. It's your understudy. It's not you.

Ted Neeley 16:19

It was the only performance I missed in the entire show. It was because it was a two day to show matinee day. And then the matinee performance. I got injured. Oh, Tommy was very physical. The stage was built to look like a pinball machine. And I'm not a dancer at all. And if you're aware of the way Pete Townsend did the music for Tommy, you know, there's the over tour, but he put an under tour in Tommy, Izzy, that doesn't happen in his show, generally. So he wrote the under Tour, which ends the first act and that was a big dance production. But the director and choreographer wanted me to be in the under tour, and they both knew I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, much less dance, you know, so they made me the pinball. And I was there were there were four guys in the cast that were dancers and extras order. They all look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they were brilliant dancers. Big muscular guys, right? They were tossing me back and forth across the stage literally. was like a little child being tossed around like a teddy bear. Well, that matinee show, one of the guys understudy was in he had, I don't know, got married or something. And that gentleman and I misjudged one of the tosses and catches and we both failed. They were knocked out on the stage, and the dancers were so talented. While the choreography was going on, they made it look like we were part of the choreography as they drugged us. Dancing kept going, nothing stops is incredible. Anyway, so the company doctor told us both go do the second act. But don't go on to the second show. Because you might be dizzy and you'll fall and hurt other people. That's the show Norman Jewison game to see and I wasn't even there. Oh, boy,

Jeff Dwoskin 17:58

that is funny. So tell me about going to see him at the hotel.

Ted Neeley 18:02

Okay. And the him you're missing do is Norman Jewison. In a way that happened was the next day after he came in saw the show and I wouldn't in it first thing in the morning, I get a call from the agent, his agent who set up him coming to see the show. He said did Norman want to see the show last night and you weren't there? Where were you, man? Did you realize what you did? I was nuts. Oh, God, is there any guy? Can you come and see the show today? He said no. He and his wife are headed back to London. He was here for this audition for the superstar cast. They're taking a flight out late this afternoon. Oh my god, would it be possible I said to him that you could ask him if he would have lunch with me so I can apologize. And he had said this response to me many times in our first few conversations he said Who are you? okay because I didn't have an agent or manager anything you know, I'm just this rock and roll screaming drummer who got lucky hear what he said? Hold on, man. Just hold on. Okay, I held on he he called Mormon cam back on he said normally we'll meet you at his hotel in midday. Just go there. Go up knock on his room door you and him sit down We're so happy I'm gonna get to meet Norman Jews and I wasn't going there to have him see me you know in Tommy for anything in superstore because he was already casting the thing in the he had told me that he'd already cast all of his principles and he was this check to get dancers and singers you know, course members anyway, so we're over there, knocked on the door. Not a sound. I checked to make sure it was the right knocked again. Silence. And in my boy scout thing. I have learned it that third time's a charm. So okay, third time. Yeah. Who is it from the inside of the door? I said, it's the guy who wasn't there last night. Oh, yeah. We're having lunch army. Go downstairs to the restaurant. I'll be there in a minute. So I'm okay. And I'm going to have lunch in orange juice. It is great. So I went down. I sit down and he said, be sure we have some coffee. That's what he said. I don't drink coffee, but I ordered coffee and I sat there and I drank coffee. Almost a pot of coffee waiting for him to come down. And as I was sitting there, I thought, this is a great director's way of telling somebody get the hell out of my life, you know, because you're annoying me. So I got out to pay my check and I'm standing to cash register getting the change and all of a sudden I get his normal nearly fainted because I suppose don't ever see him face to face. He said he thought I wasn't gonna show up didn't Yeah, he said, I was trying to show you how I felt last night when I went to the show and you didn't show up. So we sat out and we had a great lunch and a great time talking and all that and that's when he told me that he had already cast all of his principles. But he said I love your sense of humor and everybody tells me that you are great and Tommy and so I'll keep you in mind but he said but I forgive me but I got I've got to leave now we got to catch this flight. And he said take good care of yourself. I'll keep in touch great guy. Just a great guy

Jeff Dwoskin 20:54

in the documentary said he thought you were a nut.

Ted Neeley 20:59

Yeah, did he talk about how I showed him what I looked like.

Jeff Dwoskin 21:04

You mentioned you were wearing a fake mustache.

Ted Neeley 21:08

Yeah, and a wig too because I was doing Tommy a teenager late teenager trying to look as young as possible. I didn't have a facial anything and short hair and I noticed the whole time we were sitting there talking he was looking at me look I just looking at he's gonna make him over. And he told me later on in Israel that he thought it was so ridiculous that I thought I had to put on the beard and a mustache in a wig and all that he said only thing I really wanted to see what your eyes that never entered my mind is gonna be looked at but I understand now with without Norman Jewson there never would have been a film of Jesus Christ Superstar because it was the first rock opera as you mentioned a while ago, Tommy was the first rock opera but superstar was the first rock opera that was made into a film studios didn't know what to do. So Norman Jewison. Having his career and working with all of the studios was able to make that happen. We all owe our careers and our lives to Norman Jews.

Jeff Dwoskin 22:04

Norman Jewison. Is Yeah, he's an amazing director. I mean, I'm not listening everything but Fiddler on the Roof Moonstruck in the heat of the night. Thomas Crown Affair, the hurricane. I mean, that's just a fraction of them. Yeah. As to what what was it like working with such an amazing director? I mean, this is one of those iconic people, right? I mean, and here's your first film, and it's all your guys's first film really, right. Most of us,

Ted Neeley 22:27

everybody. And the only people that were two people in the cast that had even been in front of a film camera before. And that was Barry Dennen, and Josh Musto, they'd done bit parts and some movies, but the rest of us didn't have a clue. And the best example, I can give you How stupid we were in terms of movie work. Norman had us over there to get ourselves together to rehearse and all that and to make us be in the sun long enough to look like we were from there, as opposed to you know, no color in your face at all. So when he got the costumes all together, he told us that rehearsal days, it tomorrow, gonna have everybody in costume. And we're going to shoot some tests just to see how things look. So just compared to do that, it said, You're not going to do any acting anything. We're just going to have you walking around as groups, you know, the apostles and priests and so on. So we can see how that looks. So the next day, we're all there for costume and ready to do it. He said, Okay, I'm going to start off with Jesus and the apostles. And so the rest of you guys just kind of hang on and you'll see what we're going to do got with us. And he said, Okay, guys, the most important thing, when I say action, you're not acting, you're not performing, but just walk among yourselves, like your friends. So we can look at how you look with each other with the costume job. But he said, the most important thing is when I say action, be sure to hit your mark, one of the guys who was an apostle, who shall remain nameless, said, pardon me, Mr. jewison. Which one of us is Mark, because he said, hit your mark, and Matthew, Mark. Norman always made us feel like we were absolute contemporaries. He never looked down. He never made us feel stupid. He always made us feel completely collaborative. I could talk about just that element for hours and not even scratch the surface. But I don't want to leave out someone who's equally as important. And that's a man named David James, who was the photographer on location with us the whole time. That is the source of how we were able to put an extension on this documentary, his photography, he has zillions of photographs, because he's done many, many films for the major studios all of his career, and he has an archive that you wouldn't believe. And I called him up and said, we're doing this thing and I want to use some of your photographs, Frank Munoz, who is my business partner, he and I had brought up what we're going to do with the documentary and we had six places where we needed new never seen photographs. So we thought if we could get maybe six, see what works, we'll ask for three and maybe you'll give us six he sent us 95 new photographs. We had Never seen 95 that he was taking the whole time. And so we were able to take all these new photographs and add to the documentary to expand on each individual character. It's just David James is remarkable. We're doing other projects together as well. He's a dear friend has been since 1972. So it put families together friends together, created new friendships, unbelievable friendships. All of that, except two are still alive. The cinematographer doggy slogan passed not that long ago. And Barry and we were right there with Barry the whole time. So forgive me I can't tell the short story.

Jeff Dwoskin 25:38

No, I love I love it. The you know, I, I started this podcast because I love talking about these iconic things. And being able to talk to people like you, Ted and get their perspective that you normally wouldn't get to the combination of being able to watch the movie and see your documentary and then be able to talk to you. Yeah, it's like the trifecta for me.

Ted Neeley 25:57

Thank you so much for watching the dark man. I appreciate that.

Jeff Dwoskin 26:01

I love it. And I think anybody who loved the movie will love that. It's a great companion piece. Anyone who loves you and everything that you in the cast did are gonna love it and wait for everyone to be able to get it on blu ray and DVD and sweet. Let's talk more. Let's tease it more so that people get more Norman jewison gets the album. He's kind of inspired. He's inspired by it right? And then he wants he needs to do this movie. He just he kind of feels it. So that's that's great. And then you guys go to Israel. I mean, sure. You could have filmed in a desert

Ted Neeley 26:32

here any desert anywhere

Jeff Dwoskin 26:34

in a desert? Israel. I mean, I've been there many times you have is Yeah, as special as it is. The deserts look like the desert. But talk to me, like Israel, to me is a very special place. Like it's one of those places where you land and you just feel different? No question. It's a magical place, no matter what religion of the religions you are, right? So tell me what it was like? Because it must have been extra special being able to tell that story in Israel.

Ted Neeley 26:58

And how much time do we have? So well, Carl, and Larry Marshall, who was Simon and I flew in together, we arrived at night took the car from the airport to the hotel where we were staying complete blackness to get out of the major city. There's not like going into another town or it's just darkness. You know, we had made an agreement, the three of us that we wanted to see, as the sun rose, we wanted to be looking at from a high place where we can see all of the city of Jerusalem. So we got the stuff in the hotel as quickly as possible. We asked the person how do we and the guy got in his car and took us right up to the spot on top of the hill which overlooked down of Jerusalem sun starts to brighten up the sky. And then suddenly you can start to see the walls. And then is it got bright enough that we could actually see from above the city of Jerusalem, we could not believe it was so many TV antennas coming up. We didn't expect that. You see, we didn't think about Jerusalem being modern, just like everybody everywhere else. But there were the TVN is and we never will forget that. So from that moment on, everything was discovery. You've been there. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't know already. But it was just amazing to be there for the purpose we were there. And to be able to be doing it right there. And with the irony was that it was near the end of the Six Day War. But they were still bombing the borders with airplanes and tanks and nothing around us because they weren't interested in the Dead Sea. They were just interested in what they were doing. That's why you have those tanks and jets in the film because Norman who hates war in any way, shape, or form felt that he could make a statement in this film without having to say a word. Here we are 2000 years later, and it's war or war fighting everybody hating so nobody learned anything from the time that Jesus was there. They still argue and fight and all that sort of stuff. I remember the day Norman told us that he was going to get in a few days, some tanks and jets to fly over and thanks to come up with Chase carloway. And so he said I've invited someone to come and see what we're going to do from the Navy and the Marines. And so what two three days later we go on to sit and here's these two guys, two generals with other metals in full uniform, you know, and standing at attention standing watching us do what we do. It was impressive, mind you, and we had to hit the dirt a couple of times because of plantar flank odor and vomiting. And the guys are generous or standard. Yeah. Okay, good. So we had a break and I went over to say hello. They were very kind very, very, very kind. We talked for about maybe 10 minutes and I said Is it okay if I ask a question? serious question is sure. I said how is it that you can be here in the middle of a war and you can just walk away from the war and come here and hang out with us on set. The last one of the generals reached up and pulled up the metal thing with a pocket and reached in the pocket and pulled out a pad flip the few pages and he said see right here 7am bombed the Syrian border 8am Jesus Christ superstore is we follow orders.

It's incredible.

Jeff Dwoskin 30:05

Keep Jesus safe.

Ted Neeley 30:07

Yes, but I tell you everywhere we walk, no matter where we were, we were walking in someone's footsteps, we can feel that essence, no matter whether we were in the Dead Sea, or we were walking in the desert, or we were in the air degrades, was left to the palace, and all those ruins and everything that you see in the film was there, Norman's scouting locations for months before we all went over there, the only thing that was in the film that wasn't originally there was the moat that they built for King Herod song. And they put that moat, as you know, on the Dead Sea. And then the other thing was when the we were getting ready to do last supper and get cemani the garden, you know, threes were all there beautifully, like they were but there was no grass, it was all stones and sand. So Norman sent a group of guys over a few weeks before the plant the grass, so it'd be green and beautiful. When we got there. Little did he know, none of us knew that the Garden of Gethsemane he in essence, is almost like, shall we say, the heart of the land for the farmers and the sheep. And no matter if they're east, west, north or south, they go back and forth over that center to get food and whatever. Well, next thing you know, the sheep are there for lunch. And Norman had to make an arrangement with all of the people who who were shepherds to please keep your sheep away from this location until we finish the end. When we finish, it's all yours. Therefore, when you saw the argument between Jesus and Judas, before the simile after the Last Supper, and we're right at each other's face, you know, and then he runs away. And all of those shapes, he could get out of there, because they were standing there waiting for the food, you see. And when Carl starts running through, rake his way through all of those shaper, we're there. So we learn something new every day about the essence of Israel, how it was a modern city and how it was an ancient city and how it was farmers and ranchers and all that. Absolutely amazing. everything other than that, I had nothing to say.

Jeff Dwoskin 32:03

I enjoy it. So did you get to go to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and see where Jesus was crucified, and then the tomb and stone of unction where he was

Ted Neeley 32:16

I just went back to visit my childhood. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't be saying those things. But after a while, you everybody's making those jokes, I just repeat what they say, you know, to have the opportunity to be making a feature motion picture and to be in the location where the subject matter happened. So if you have any questions or concerns at all, all you got to do is say a word or a word, I go see, we're not going to separate or where do I get amazing,

Jeff Dwoskin 32:42

where they what are their jokes today?

Ted Neeley 32:44

Oh, well, quite frankly, they everybody was so seemingly amazed that we were there making the film because the war was that war was going on. You see people don't generally go on vacations or visit places when they're shooting the war right down the street. So they were very amazed with that. And they could not have been more kind and more generous and welcoming for all of us. Always a matter of fact, there were concerts going on, they're still even in the war. They were cutting times whenever we were doing our music when we could hear the music going on in the city that was going on in the daytime. And again, I'm thinking if they're bombing the place, and you're still doing concerts, here we are with a pandemic and you can't do concerts anymore, but they're bombing in place and still there we saw BB King live over there while we were there shooting

Jeff Dwoskin 33:32

on it. So it's so amazing. Yeah, you know the interesting thing about Israel is I mean at the times that I was there there's there's always strife there's always something going on somewhere and there's the times that I was there the United States would be like we don't go to Israel and we were there and the interesting thing about Israel is they don't have to contain the battles and the in what in their skirmishes and keep everyone else safe is Yeah, with things going on? I never felt safer you know, I mean, it's it's edgy because everyone there is in the army. So they all they all have guns and they may not be loaded all the time but they all have guns and they're all in the army. And it's it's a very you know, it's safe you feel safe it's an interesting it's a peaceful place for all the craziness it's it's always going on in the Middle East

Ted Neeley 34:16

in what you're talking about. Even though the wars are going on. You know, people are still safe like you said, Because everyone's in the army so to speak. Well, that happened to us on the set. We go to the set one day it is to shoot as we were getting ready to shoot the Simon you know, Christ. You know, I love you

Jeff Dwoskin 34:31

sure sure

Ted Neeley 34:32

We get there and there's no crew on set normally goes. Where's the crew? He said they're fighting a battle and they said everybody here is in the army said but they should be back by midday, you know, so we had four hour break because we had no crew to to this point. Sure enough, mid day, they all come up, they're ready to do their thing, which to me was amazing.

Jeff Dwoskin 34:53

That's funny that they would disappear and then come back. Yeah, but that's that's the way it is. Everyone's there. I remember say everyone's in the army and everyone knows at least One secret. And they'll never tell them. That's right. Most people don't have that combined memory. Like there's one thing of having this combined memory in the family that you made making this film, but then also kind of being in Israel elevated that and probably adds a bit of an interesting layer to the film as well. To Yeah, magically be in the hometown, if you will. Yeah, I did have one joke. I was gonna ask you, I was gonna make jokes. I was gonna say what do you say when you cut yourself shaving?

Ted Neeley 35:33

Well, it's become a term that refers to pandemic shots now, literally, and everybody has used the word zillion times. I was watching CNN the other night, and they were interviewing Dr. Fauci middle of the week, halfway through it, the host said, So Dr. Gautier, are you aware of what people are referring to the shots now for the pandemic? And he said, we call them shots. Yeah, under the vaccinations, and he said, but there's a new thing on the street people referring to have you heard he said, No, I haven't. He said, Would you like to hear it? He's Sure. He said they're calling. He says, You ready for this? Fauci said, Sure. Here's what he said. They're calling it the Fauci algae. So when I cut myself, I see algae, I'm thinking something else, but I see Ouch. You know,

Jeff Dwoskin 36:17

when I cut myself, I go, Ted. Anyway. Tell me a little bit about Carl Anderson, talk to me about like working with Carl. And you know, it's it's so sad that we lost him, you know, so long ago now, and it's early 2000s. But I watched a clip where he was still touring and doing it. And he seemed to have a match passion for you in terms of the role and jesus christ superstar. And, and just doing it night after night, after night, after night, when Carl

Ted Neeley 36:45

and I first met, we both had this internal feeling. And we didn't talk about it until later on. Until Actually, we were in the show together, we both felt we were born as adults on that day. In other words, life begin, and we were already adults. And we grew up together. In this experience, every time we went onstage was like the first time all over again, and we were so comfortable with each other because of our respect for each other. No matter what one did on stage, it might have been a little different. The other would be right there with him. We were always doing new things within the confines of the character, never pulling away from what the character was doing, nor never changing that which was being sung. Because that was what the people who came to see it wanted to see. because they'd seen the movie, they didn't want us going out there and doing the songs all differently and all that we wanted to do exactly what they came to see. And it always happened. And I've never in my life worked with anyone that we had that sort of a relationship. We never went, well we have to do this. No, no, why don't we try that it just happened on stage because that music, the lyrics, the melodies, the music takes you on a journey, no matter for us anyway, no matter how many times twice a day, seven times a week 1000s upon 1000s of performances together, never getting tired of it, can't wait to get back on stage and do it again. And then the private lives became the same thing. families together in one when he found out that he had problems Carl was to me the probably the most healthy person I ever knew in my life. Yeah, I remember meeting having a cold disk, always energetic, and just the way the guy you see on that, but friendly, you know, not angry just Carl. And when we found out that he had a problem, he had no idea because he was so healthy all the time. He didn't know. But when he found out, I mean, find out that you've got blood cancer, and you've had it long enough that it's possible. You may die next week. Hello. And then he went in for therapy and got the thing together. And they put him in a place out by the beach in Malibu, and he was recovering beautifully. His wife and I were talking on a daily basis to see how I was and everything was going great. One day, she gave me a call and said well, it looks like he's not gonna make it through the night. And sure enough, he didn't. I've never been that moved by losing somebody other than my own parents. And then just recently this past year, I lost my brother. Alright, so I lost my brother Carl A while back, but he is always there in spirit, no matter where we are who's doing the role they're trying to be Carl and they do a really good job. Most of the guys are to suit especially the guys that worked with me and Italy for all that time. Just amazing. Corey Glover you know, Corey Glover. I think I know the name. Well, he did Judas in one of our American tours. He was the closest thing ever to Carl. So

Jeff Dwoskin 39:43

it's clear to you that you found a real brother family doesn't come from her parents and so it's it's nice to have you had that relationship and it's even more lovely, how you keep his memory alive and make sure he's honored and all the all the things that you do so that's it's very touching. Talk to me about Yvonne and you guys have your voices are beautiful together. You've done music together outside of jesus christ superstar. Yes, you tour together.

Ted Neeley 40:08

Yes, she's such a sweetheart. by God. She was in the Broadway show, too. So that's where we first met was when she and Barry joined us for the Broadway show. She's born and raised in Hawaii. She's definitely a Hawaiian girl. And she's got the most incredible, crazy sense of humor, any lady always telling crazy jokes and making snide remarks. Even when we have interviews together, she's has to stop laughing because somebody will say something that will make her think, Oh, I just thought another joke. We have developed this concert tour that we're going to do it was going to premiere last Easter in Boston, and the pandemic stopped it. They're talking now about trying to get it up in maybe September in Boston, we're going to premiere it there definitely. And then we hope that we can turn it into a tour because we do the screening. I don't know if you're aware of the movie screenings that we do. We've been doing them for now for almost eight years. in movie theaters all over America, we're going to now take the hopefully the concert tour to all of those theaters, because they seem to be open to letting us do it. And I'll be honest, and proudly say that we've never been to any theater in any city to screen jesus christ superstar with the audience and watching it and singing along. We've never been to one it hasn't invited us back many times. And when they heard that we're going we want to try to do a concert. Same thing. They want us to come and do like a week of concerts and films and sing alongs. And you know, and Yvonne and I have become brother and sister. There's no question. It's just the way the relationships are and the way we met and such an emotional experience. We all became family and everything works. There's never a problem. There's never arguments. It's just all collaboration. And her husband is the funniest guy in the world. He's a guitar player, but he's got he could do stand up comedy as well. I've been trying to get in both to do routine together because they can do so much crazy stuff. And she plays a guitar so they could get to art and tell jokes and seeing

Jeff Dwoskin 42:07

that'd be great. They're gonna see that I find there's a guy who was doing some work in my house is his name is Matt. And we were talking about the podcast and I said, Oh, I'm interviewing Ted Neeley tomorrow. He says, really? I'm like, Yeah, he goes, I've seen him three times. I said, you I said you want me to put on the record? He goes, Yeah, but I'm gonna as long as you don't mind me singing along.

Ted Neeley 42:31

Everybody can I guess it just happened to come out at a time when families really needed something to give them some spiritual entertainment. Because it's based on the first four books in the New Testament, primarily mark, and john tells the story through the song. So the fact that nobody's talking, there's no dialogue getting in the way of the music and the music never stops. It's something that they can sit down with their babies in their on their couch. And in the babies sing along. And I talked to a guy who just recently who said he was told by his parents that the first time he watched jesus christ superstar was just after he turned one year old. And he's been watching it ever since.

Jeff Dwoskin 43:10

Tell me about your fans. Because you when you go to these Q and A's you do the screenings you've done by, let's say, 1000s at this point, probably

Ted Neeley 43:18

multiple 1000s. Yeah, they've left me

Jeff Dwoskin 43:21

What's your feeling when these fans come up to you? And how do you describe that connection that you have with them

Ted Neeley 43:26

is instant friendship, whether we speak the same language or not, this film has made us all family. And that's around the world. Because this film was successful, the most successful film of the year and when it came out in 73, and it when you get a chance to go and visit other countries, not to mention your own home and every state and every city in America and Canada, but to go to other countries and get the same response. It's just the whole thing I talked about early about going to Rome, supposed to be six weeks and ran into five and a half years, which we'd still be there if they banned me when

Jeff Dwoskin 44:01

they didn't want to let you go there, you know, and you get a New Orleans and Well, Jesus. Yeah, hold on to it as long as you can.

Ted Neeley 44:08

But every city that we've gone to, and every country we've gone to, there are people who have come to see the show that were in over 100 times. They keep coming back and seeing it every other day and bringing more family and friends and I'm family. I'm talking about grandparents and parents and children and grandchildren all coming together. And in America back east. In the 90s when Carl and I were doing the tour all the time, one day, because I always meet two people before and after the show, definitely after the show. And it got to the point now where I can go out in the lobby and have meetings with everybody because the theater doesn't mind because they're selling popcorn and stuff out there. You know, getting hugs and all this stuff. And so I met this family, it was a mother and father and the son and his wife, and the Son and the wife, I think we're maybe 20 to 25 or something like that. So five or six years later, I go back to the same city and there was another In my dressing Mr. Neeley, we're here again. And we'd like to be able to introduce you to our granddaughter. So after the show, I told the guys who let make sure that they're in front of the line. So it's a little girl so they can come and do their thing early. So I walk out and here's all the lobbies full of people. Here's the family right there. And it's Grandpa, Grandma, husband and wife. But I didn't see the little girl. Turns out she was hiding behind her mom peeking around mommy looking up at Jesus, you know, as far as he could, and I'd look over and see hide. So I talked to the parents. And then the moment she mom says, sweetheart, Wasn't there something you wanted to tell Mr. Neeley? And she goes, hmm. So she's mom said, Well, now would be the best time to do that. Just Just step up here and talk to Mr. Nanny, so she stepped around front and she was dressed like a little ballerina. She just looked so precious I want to do is to grab her and his squeezer and squeak, but I was being polite, you know. And she said, Okay, if Mr. Neeley is listening, you tell him what you want to see. And she says, Mr. Neeley, you are my Jesus, and she runs behind mommy see that, that just made chills up my spine right now, remembering that moment, that child knowing that she had seen the film enough to think that I was the guy that they call Jesus, you see that the family passed it on to the child. Now there's over four generations of families who have passed it on to their children. That's why it still works. It's just amazing for me. And when we do the screenings, we have they call VIP gatherings before and after the screening in the lobbies of the theater. And when new people come in, it's like I'm welcoming my cousins, and my aunts and uncles are all there that I feel that I've seen them. There's that same thing as I was telling you about with the cast, there's a family essence that happens that we're all standing there talking together, and it's wonderful.

Jeff Dwoskin 46:50

You have the personality that everyone would hope you would have. I mean, it's like, I feel like even before we started talking before you were recording, we instantly just hit it off. I mean, you just have you've made connections with people immediately. It's clear to me,

Ted Neeley 47:05

I just want you to know, I'm stealing all your licks and I'm

Jeff Dwoskin 47:09

not just saying it I just you know, it's it's true. I mean, it's like, you know, just to the stories you have and just you can watch any interview with you. You've done it's clear, you just you just have this genuine ness with you. It's natural to you combined with that with playing Jesus Christ. So many times I can I can see where you would mean that much. That's everybody. So it's it's great.

Ted Neeley 47:28

What do you think about where I've gotten to go in comparison to where I came from, because I was born in a tiny Texas town called Ranger Texas population, 1989 people total population that's counting the cows and the sheep and the goats. Everything is a and now. I mean, I grew up in that everybody in the town knew each other. It was like that. That was several versions of the same family cousins and aunts and uncles and all that. And I spent the first 18 years of my life in that beautiful, wonderful little town, peaceful, beautiful, everything was great. And I got to start my band there. You know, they called us a band. But you know, we didn't know what we were doing. We just stole everybody's music and tried to sound just like him. And I was a drummer. Yeah.

Jeff Dwoskin 48:12

Did you like to go by Teddy back then?

Ted Neeley 48:14

Well, that's what they call me.

Jeff Dwoskin 48:19

I'm asking if you liked it

Ted Neeley 48:20

yeah, I had no problem. My parents called me daddy.

Jeff Dwoskin 48:22

Okay. Cause you're Ted

Ted Neeley 48:24

Nobody called me Ted? You know, nobody called me to edit. Also, Teddy Joe Neeley. That's why it TJ became something and instead of Joe irigaray, detta, Joe, day instead of Joe, you know, and I had an older brother, younger sister, mega Joyce, Jackie Ray, you know, all Southern folks, you know, my dad was from Illinois, and my mother's from Texas. So I grew up in this family situation. And the essence of this film has given me that ever since it's just no matter where I go, I feel like I'm with my family. It's wonderful. Like you. I feel like we're brothers. You know, the way we're carrying on here. We've known each other for years, you know, it's wonderful. And you got a great smile too, man. That's great.

Jeff Dwoskin 49:04

Thank you. Thank you, Teddy. I feel I can call you Teddy now, I do want to say that because I just think it was it's really cool. You've also been on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Sonny and Cher those are just a few of them and then recently did a movie with Quinten, Tarantino and Django Unchained that's that's pretty you've done some cool stuff so what's what's next for you what the tour with Yvonne and then more jesus christ superstar.

Ted Neeley 49:34

Yes, folks in Europe keep contacting me and saying as soon as this thing closes, we want to open it with superstar anyway, we definitely will go back we just don't know when because they're having even worse problems than we are right now with since we've been doing the screenings, all of those people that we screened, want us to come back so we know that we can jump in and do screenings as soon as the lock downs are lifted. And then my partner business partner Frank and I have developed Another project that we're doing as a theatrical piece, again, I said earlier, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to develop these things if we were still out on the road, right? So we were able to focus on what we wanted to do with these specific projects. That's why this documentary is ready to go out there. And for people to see now on Vimeo and tubi. It's just amazing. I cannot wait to get back on the road and do whichever it is we do because I've been on the road all my life, and it's the first time in my life I've ever been not on the road for a whole year. So I'm ready anytime that it's okay. It's got to be okay.

Jeff Dwoskin 50:35

So again, documentary Superstars directed by your friend Frank Nunez that you just mentioned. It's it's streamable. And then it's going to be August 10 of this year 2021 blu ray DVD to celebrate the 48th anniversary of Jesus Christ Superstar

Ted Neeley 50:53

get out there. You certainly will believe that you just mentioned the 48th anniversary. I'm still only 33 that's the miracle.

Jeff Dwoskin 51:02

I saved it for a year. Right. That's dirty water and the wine. He's keeping himself there.

Ted Neeley 51:09

Is that really came that really came in handy. The water wine thing you know, certainly in Rome. Hey.

Jeff Dwoskin 51:18

You should come out with you should come out with a line of wine.

Ted Neeley 51:22

We've got the bottles. I got the bottles right here. You got a cup of water there. Let me hold it for a minute.

Jeff Dwoskin 51:28

It's just water and your tagline is trust me. Yeah.

Ted Neeley 51:32

We should travel together. Good jokes. Trust me.

Jeff Dwoskin 51:36

Yeah. This has been a blast that I can't thank you enough for hanging out with me. It really is great. A lot of fun modifying.

Ted Neeley 51:46

I'm really happy. Your friend said you got to enter this. I know. Yeah. Yeah. I'm glad it happened. Like thank you to Paul. Yes, Paul. Yeah. Thank you, Paul. Thank you. Thank you, man.

Jeff Dwoskin 51:57

Again, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right. How fun was that? What a great guy Ted Neeley. He was such a joy to talk with. When the world starts to get back to normal again, if he comes to your town, definitely check out one of the movie showings the live play. Whatever is available to you. You'll enjoy meeting Ted as much as I enjoy talking to him. That's for sure. And you'll enjoy those screenings. And definitely check out the documentary superstars. It's streaming right now. I'll put some links in the show notes. And also, it's on sale in August of 2021.

All right, we're nearing the end of the shows. You know, that means it's time for the hashtag around trend of the week. That's right, is where we pick a hashtag from the family of hashtag round of games and spotlighted on the podcast. How do you get involved? Follow hashtag round up on twitter at hashtag Roundup, download the hashtag roundup app it's free, totally free on the Apple Store or Google Play Store. You'll get notified every time a game starts play along and one day one of your tweets may end up on a future episode of the live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show fame and fortune away too. All right, this week's hashtag comes to us from Hoosier Mama tags, a very popular game on hashtag round up hosted by CK this week's hashtag #EasterComedies

Ted and I laugh so much and it's Easter. This is the perfect tag. Let's have some good laughs with Easter comedies that's a mash up of anything Easter related and a comedy. And here we go. #EasterComedies. Doctor who hid the eggs, good Fridays, National Lampoon's resurrection, bosom bunnies, these are all amazing #EasterComedies. Welcome back, Jesus. Welcome back to the time... Everybunny Loves Raymond I love you man, of God, CadburyShack that's a good one. But hurry, retweet that one before it's gone. Talla-egga Nights dear sweet baby Jesus. Peepless is in Seattle. I dream of Jesus. These are amazing #EasterComedies huh? Happy Days hard eggs night. It's been a hot eggs night. You've got Cottontail and the final #EasterComedies more at subsequent resurrection film to make benefit of glorious Jerusalem. Alright, those are some amazing hashtag Easter comedies. And don't forget you can find all these tweeters in the show notes and also retweeted at Jeff Dwoskin show on Twitter, grab the hashtag round bat play along and you can end up on a future episode of live from Detroit the Jeff Dwoskin show,

and can you believe it? We've come to the end of yet another episode of live from Detroit, the Jeff Dwoskin show. Thank you all once again for coming week after week and supporting the show. Thank you to Ted Neeley for being my guest. We've got lots of great shows coming up. Don't forget to subscribe and follow to the podcast, and I'll see you next week.

Announcer 55:21

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Jeff Dwoskin show with your host, Jeff Dwoskin. Now go repeat everything you've heard and sound like a genius. catch us online at the Jeff Dwoskin show.com or follow us on Twitter at Jeff Dwoskin show and we'll see you next time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai