King Herod's Song: Mike d'Abo Jesus Christ Supperstar

Mike d'Abo tells about his involvement with Tim Rice and the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
Live at the Hurlingham Club 12.04.16

[@seanhegarty5417]

Mike did the best version of the song. It was ruined by all others after him.

[@hrothgleas1]

The opera needed a lighter touch...and there's exactly no menace in the last verse.... Great voice, fine piano.

[@russelltofts3673]

Tim Rice is on record for saying he doesn't like the overtly camp versions, but prefers it sung straight. There was certainly nothing camp about the real Herod Antipas, who was a very cruel and tyrannical man in the pocket of Rome.

[@tamaraandersson2532]

To me, Mike's original version is THE Herod's Song. Never understood why Herod should be made into an over the top, almost animated character. Just... why? It denigrades the whole scene and its importance. Lovely to hear that he's retained the strength and richness of his voice.

[@withonelook1985]

Herod is the only funny character in the show. The audience needs a break from the rest of the music. The song is in the style of roaring 20s.The difference between an album and a show is people need to watch an entire show, but don't need to listen to an entire album.

[@tamaraandersson2532]

@@withonelook1985 Yes, I agree that Herod's number is the only true comedic element in the show, and I also agree that it serves as as well needed emotional relief for the audience. But that was not what my comment was about. I just don't like how many productions have turned Herod into a silly, exaggerated clown for no reason other than laziness/underestimating the audience. The humour is already in the lyrics. Delivering them with a straight face gets the comedy across while still retaining the weight of the plot.

[@nathankerr393]

Thanks for the upload. Nice to hear the story behind the song.

[@merledoughty5787]

I would love to have been at this venue interesting music history.

[@mailill]

I love this version! Great voice and the right style for the part!

[@williamschaeffer409]

best man to do it

[@jetuber]

infinitely superior to the movie version.

[@edwardbliss8931]

He probably never had a shortage of groupies when he was younger

[@Ikke24]

Look for full details of all Mike's music activities on his website www.mikedabo.com.

[@TheHManShow]

I love that he put his own take on the piano solo

[@paulofreire7520]

Wonderfull! 👍🏻

[@rogcop]

Замечательно!!!!!!!!!!

[@RenegadeTimeLord2023]

i wish he had done it rather than Alice Cooper ... after all he's only 4 years older AND sang it first. I still wonder why he never did it in a production.

[@Jaaassaa]

Daniel Stasik guess Alice cooper just brought it more publicity

[@mikefortier7081]

The name

[@johnpaine673]

Mike D'Abo did do this first in the original album that debuted in 1970. Alice Cooper didn't perform it until 1996...

[@RenegadeTimeLord2023]

@@johnpaine673 You'd think somewhere in there he could have been cast

[@sav7568]

I wonder who was responsible for camping up Herod. It wasn't D'abo, nor was it the directors of the original London and New York productions. It seems to have begun a little bit later.

[@jacobh9344]

Reg Livermore in Australia. Just listen. It’s crazy.

[@sav7568]

@@jacobh9344 If you are right then the person responsible would be Jim Sharman.

[@Haseo92]

Love it

[@thef1rew1tch]

Supperstar eh?!

[@a.mcadams6880]

wow TYVM for the add to our knowledge

[@balintlenard126]

Thanks

[@FranciscoBravoCabrera]

Great!

[@isabelwakka1160]

Wow😍😳🙏

[@albertfar-cobo5896]

GREAT PERFOMANCE !!!!!!