IAN GILLAN Â Â
 Ian Gillan, the lead singer of Deep Purple sang the part of Jesus on the Jesus Christ Superstar album.  In addition to Gillan, the presence of rock session musicians like guitarists Neil Hubbard and Chris Spedding, bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Bruce Rowland gives the album more of a rock flavor than most of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s later work.  (October 2014)  *    *    *  Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first major show was the audacious Jesus Christ Superstar (1970); this rock opera actually did start out as an album, Jesus Christ Superstar, with Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan in the title role, while Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton musical went straight to the stage.  (September 2016)  |