Jesus Christ Superstar Australia 1972 - Jon English

[caz4777]

Just before Christmas 2011, Jon English appeared on the SBS programme "Rockwiz", singing the theme song for Jesus Christ, Superstar.

[dasar750]

Fantastic - know every word to every song!

[YumiRulz]

He was always the Pirate King to me... It just shocks me how young he is in this. He sounds awesome. :O

[Secretvictoria66]

You really can't fault the cast of the original Australian production or this recording. Please roxycat, can you please put some other songs from this album up. It brings back so many fond memories of growing up listening to this on my parent's stereo.

[caz4777]

I was having a look at the National Library of Australia's Trove website, and found some colour pictures and an article featuring Trevor White, Jon English and Michele Fawdon in a digitised copy of the Australian Women's Weekly dated the 26th of January 1972, and another one dated the 5th of April 1972. You should have a look Roxycat68

[roxycat68]

@caz4777

Thanks for that info Caz ... found the articles ... great !

[biteybean]

I saw this at least a million times (ok - exaggerating), at the Capitoi and also the Palais in Melbourne. My dad played Pontius Pilate. I tell you... for a 5 year it old it really beat having a baby sitter. I was completely taken and absorbed by it.

[caz4777]

I believe Cinesound recorded something of the show, but I think it would only be promotional/rehearsal footage.

I have noticed in IMDb they speak of a 48 minute television documentary of Jesus Christ Superstar - Australian version. Give that a try.

Jesus Christ Superstar (TV 1972)

48 min - Documentary

Directors: Sandy Harbutt, Bill Hughes

Writer: Sandy Harbutt

Stars:Bill Binks, Tony Bishop and Carolyn Boyd

[prisonernumber24601]

@caz4777 I imagine that footage is probably lost. For all we know, a complete recording could just be rotting away in a vault somewhere and we don't know about it. It's really sad when you think of it.

[caz4777]

@prisonernumber24601 Could someone try the National Film and Sound Archive ?

[caz4777]

Watching and listening to Jon English at the Capitol Theatre, I was very impressed. The man has an exceptionally good singing voice. At the auditions they knew they had found the ideal person to play Judas, and he did a first class job.

[philliplenon]

is there an original video of the 1972 production

[diehardhushfan]

I saw this show in 1972 and 1973 at the Capitol in Sydney.Sat there spellbound

both times.The highlight of the show for

me was Judas's death.The first time John English did that the harness he was

wearing broke and he was nearly got killed.

[roxycat68]

ahh the beauty of live performance ! LOL

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan Yes. I saw the show at the Capitol Theatre, Haymarket in 1972 and 1973. I remember the scene where Judas hanged himself. That would be why Jon English wore a harness, i.e. to stop him from actually being hanged. He was a brave man to do that night after night, after having the harness break on him.

I have seen an American production of this on film, but to the best of my knowledge, they didn't make a film of it in Australia.

[diehardhushfan]

@caz4777 Gee I wish they had filmed it.Maybe Harry M Miller has some footage that

he's keeping all to himself.

[diehardhushfan]

@caz4777 I have also heard that is when he started using heroin.

Is'nt it amazing to think of how many people were in that show that went on to greater things.John English, Marcia Hines, J,P,Y, the guys from Air Supply and Billy Miller from The Ferrets.They all got their start in that show. Your Dad must have been someone special to be able to do that for you.

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan Yes, my father did know a few people connected with the entertainment industry, though more on the promotional side of things. Have you seen the Wikipedia entry: Jesus Christ Superstar (Original Australian Cast Recording). You can see all the people who were in that show, and what a stellar cast it was. The show was entirely live, so everyone really had to know what they were doing.

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan I think if he had any footage, he would have sold it by now. I also remember my father taking me to meet some of the people in the cast, including Stevie Wright. I learned years later that during his time in that show, he started using heroin. I look at him now and remember him as he was back then.

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan In these pictures you can also see Joe Dicker, who played the first Herod - in 1972. He actually came over and spoke to me, showed me his picture in the programme, and signed it for me. Such a nice person.

[diehardhushfan]

@caz4777 Was he the guy who could ripple his abdominal

musles? The first time I saw it in 72 I remember Herod doing that.

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan I don't recall him doing that, not to say that he didn't. You can see him in the chorus line of acolytes at 0:36 to 0:39 and other parts of this video with Trevor White kneeling in front of them.

[caz4777]

@diehardhushfan Jon English shares some of his own recollections of the show

at: his website including some idiot thowing a molotov cocktail at Trevor White. I didn't see him after the show the night I attended. Someone said that he left in a hurry on a motorbike. Honestly, some people needed to be reminded that it was just a stage play, and the people in it were just playing their parts.

[Secretvictoria66]

@diehardhushfan I remember that happening. I remember there was a newspaper article about it and they had a photo of Jon English and he was kind of making a slicing motion across his throat and his tongue was sticking out - lol.

[trippylippy1]

what an awesome experience this was as a 13 year old in melbourne.

... i still feel grateful and privileged.

...

[IsThatReallyMe]

Yes, privileged is how I feel. I saw it '72 and '75. Jon English was the consumate performer. And the Aussies did the best version, as demonstrated here!! :-)

[ijohnno]

That riff at the start of heaven on their minds is unreal. You know how hard it was for us to fathom it as a bunch of high school kids in 1976-1979. We got it down though took it across Aust. on tour with the band of Debney Park high school. In a way, you could say that song made us. We beat the best band in the country playing it in 76 or so.

[roxycat68]

hiya ... I will try to get them on here very soon ...

[retrorteretro]

i'm really interested in What's the buzz,Simon Zealotes,Everything's alrite tracks of this group. could U upload a bit of them?

[DukeHendrix]

the best ever! does anyone have any film of this?

[roxycat68]

I wish I knew ... I have being trying to find footage from this show for years ...

[rotateddisk]

Jon English did the best version of this song ever.

[philliplenon]

@rotateddisk must agree

[ausi14u]

This brings back the wonderful seventies and stealing a listen of my brothers record of J.C.S.S. Thanks For the posting.

[SOADomia]

it's really great my god!! thanks for posting!!!

[roxycat68]

If anyone out there has additional pictures from the Australian show I would love to hear from you

[roxycat68]

Recorded from the original LP ... I just love this show and the Australian production