Early career
Neeley signed his first record deal in 1965, at age 22, with Capitol Records. He and his group, The Teddy Neeley Five, recorded an album titled Teddy Neeley. They played the club circuit for years, and at one point their name (on a marquee) appeared in an episode of Dragnet. Then, in 1969, Neeley played the lead role of Claude in both the New York and Los Angeles productions of Hair. His work with that show's director, Tom O'Horgan, led to him being called when O'Horgan was hired to stage Jesus Christ Superstar for Broadway. Ironically, Neeley originally auditioned for the role of Judas, seeing it as a great opportunity to create a character few understand. However, when Ben Vereen was chosen for the role, Neeley signed on as chorus and also became the Christ understudy. This particular opportunity led to him taking on the title role in the Los Angeles stage version (which played at the Universal Amphitheatre) after receiving a standing ovation during a performance earlier in the tour. Castmate and close friend Carl Anderson was touring also as a Judas understudy. He also created the title role in Tommy in Los Angeles, and that in turn led him to reprise the title role in the film version of Superstar, directed by Norman Jewison, alongside Anderson as Judas. For his performance in the film, he was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the 1974 Golden Globe Awards.
Post-JCS
Fresh from the success of Superstar, Neeley released a solo album, 1974 A.D., in 1974, and created the title role in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road in New York. From then on, he was a frequent musical guest star on network variety programs and as a guest actor in network dramas during the 1970s and 1980s (including the NBC movies Of Mice and Men and McLaren's Riders).
Amongst other functions he performed, Neeley composed music for and appeared in Robert Altman's film A Perfect Couple, and performed the music for the TriStar feature film Blame it on the Night, NBC-TV's Highway to Heaven, and The Big Blue Marble for the Children's Television Network. He also wrote music for and starred in Cowboy Jack Street at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and the screenplay for a film aimed at the kiddie market entitled Captain Rainbow which has yet to see the big screen.
At the same time, Neeley also provided his abilities as singer, songwriter, vocal arranger, and producer to albums and appearances by such artists as Nigel Olsson, Tina Turner, Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Keith Carradine, and Meat Loaf. In the realm of concept albums, he worked with songwriter Michael Rapp, who wrote such hit concept albums as Ulysses: The Greek Suite, The Ring and The Enchanter exclusively for showcasing Neeley's amazing vocal talents. In the late Seventies, Ted expanded his talents once more to live performance with his band Pacific Coast Highway.
However, while he moved on in his career, the specter of Superstar still loomed large. In the late 1970s, he reprised his performance in the title role for two regional productions in California, both under the auspices of the California Youth Theatre organization. The first reunited him with his Broadway and film co-stars Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman (as Judas and Mary Magdalene, respectively), and the second reunited him again with his close friend Carl.
Return
Twenty years after first playing the role, Neeley gained renewed success in the lead role of Jesus in the 1990s touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar (which once again co-starred Carl Anderson as Judas, and also at various points co-starred Irene Cara of Fame as Mary, and Dennis DeYoung of Styx as Pilate). This modernized version of the original production included a day-glo temple scene, and a glass crucifixion cross that elevated above the stage and was lit from within. Originally planned as a three month tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the motion picture, the "A.D. Tour" went on to become the longest running revival in North American theater history. From 1992 to 1997, the hugely successful tour criss-crossed the nation multiple times, allowing Neeley the opportunity to reprise his role over 1,700 times. In 1999, Neeley reunited with Michael Rapp for a new project, a rock musical entitled Rasputin, a story about the fall of the Romanov dynasty as seen through the eyes of Alexei, heir to the throne and friend to the "mad monk" (a role created by Neeley). In addition to playing the title role, he recently produced a workshop production and concept album of the show. He followed this up in 2000 by creating the role of Willie Moore in the world premiere of Murder in the First, presented by the Rubicon Theatre Company of California, with whom Neeley maintains a close association. A year later, he served as the sound consultant for their production of the Harry Chapin revue Lies and Legends. In 2004, Neeley worked with them once again, as Lucky in the Rubicon Theatre Company's production of Waiting for Godot, which was the centerpiece of their BeckettFest.
Projects
In August 2006, once again under the auspices of the California Youth Theatre group (now YouTHeatre - America or YTA), Neeley took on the familiar title role in Jesus Christ Superstar live in concert for a one night only benefit at The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, reuniting him with several of his former co-stars from the original Broadway cast (Ben Vereen, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen) and also pairing him with current celebrities (Clint Holmes, Jack Black). In 2006, Neeley began headlining another production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Originally billed by some as his national "farewell" tour, he disavowed the claim and the show was known as the new "A.D. Tour". The new production was a stripped-down version with staging and set limited to a few risers. The tour was supposed to last through 2007, but audience and critical reception for the show was so great that it continues to be extended and is currently booked through 2010. Carl Anderson, who was originally slated to reprise his role, died in 2004 of leukemia. Corey Glover, lead singer of the rock band Living Colour, co-starred as Judas early in the tour. Glover left the show to rejoin Living Colour in June 2008, and actor James Delisco was cast as the new Judas, along with several new cast members.
Other
With the tour finished, Neeley plans to focus on other projects that have been in the offing for some time. Further runs of Rasputin and Murder in the First are on the priority list, as is development of his newly written musical work Pandemonium (intended for the Broadway stage) and a new country music album (featuring songs written and recorded in collaboration with his friend and long-time music partner Pepper Martin). Through his company, Blue Bonnet Surprise, Neeley is developing several new works in collaboration with the Rubicon Theatre Company and Gary Goddard Entertainment.
Personal life
Neeley and his wife Leeyan currently reside in Texas with their children Tessa and Zack. They met during the making of the film, Jesus Christ Superstar.
The Temple
Ted Neeley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roll on up, for my price is down
Come on in, for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
Roll on up, for the price is down
Come on in, for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Name your price I got everything
Come and buy it's going fast
Borrow cash on the finest terms
Hurry now while stock still lasts
[????]
Roll on up, for my price is down
Come on in, for the best in town
Take your pick of the finest wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
My temple should be a house of prayer
But you have made it a den of thieves
Get out! Get out!
Mine time is almost through
Little left to do
See my eyes I can hardly see
See me stand I can hardly walk
I believe you can make me whole
See my tongue I can hardly talk
See my skin it's a mass of blood
See my legs I can hardly stand
I believe you can make me well
See my purse I'm a poor poor man
Will you touch will you mend me Christ
Won't you touch will you heal me Christ
Will you kiss you can cure me Christ
Won't you kiss won't you pay me Christ
The lyrics to Ted Neeley's song "The Temple" reference the biblical story of Jesus overturning the tables of money changers and merchants who were selling goods in the temple. The first stanza of the song sets up the scene of a market where the singer is asking people to come and buy goods, promising the best prices and the finest wine. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the commercialization and exploitation of religious spaces, with the sellers prioritizing profit over piety.
The second stanza switches from the singer's voice to that of Jesus, who denounces the temple as a "den of thieves" instead of a house of prayer. The tone shifts dramatically as Jesus calls for the sellers to leave and expresses his frustration at their actions. The final stanza has a more personal tone, as a sick and poor man begs for Jesus' help and healing, using vivid descriptions of his physical ailments. This section emphasizes the idea that true faith involves compassion and care for others, not just ritual observance or material gain.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Temple" highlight the tension between spirituality and commerce, and suggest that true faith involves rejecting greed and prioritizing human dignity and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll on up, for my price is down
Come and buy from me because I'm selling at lower prices
Come on in, for the best in town
Enter my place because I have the best offerings
Take your pick of the finest wine
Choose from my high-quality selection of wine
Lay your bets on this bird of mine
Invest in me, I'm a good opportunity
Name your price I got everything
Tell me how much you're willing to pay and I have everything to offer
Come and buy it's going fast
Hurry and buy because stock is running out quickly
Borrow cash on the finest terms
Get a loan from me with the best possible interest rates
Hurry now while stock still lasts
Act fast while there's still something left to buy
My temple should be a house of prayer
My religious establishment should be a place for prayer and devotion
But you have made it a den of thieves
You have turned it into a place of corruption and unethical practices
Get out! Get out!
Leave my place immediately
Mine time is almost through
My time is coming to an end
Little left to do
There's not much left for me to accomplish
See my eyes I can hardly see
My vision is impaired
See me stand I can hardly walk
My ability to walk is limited
I believe you can make me whole
I have faith that you can heal me entirely
See my tongue I can hardly talk
My speech is impaired
See my skin it's a mass of blood
My skin is covered in wounds and bruises
See my legs I can hardly stand
My legs are too weak to support me
I believe you can make me well
I have faith that you can restore my health
See my purse I'm a poor poor man
I don't have much money
Will you touch will you mend me Christ
Can you heal me through physical contact, Christ?
Won't you touch will you heal me Christ
Please heal me, Christ
Will you kiss you can cure me Christ
Can you heal me through a kiss, Christ?
Won't you kiss won't you pay me Christ
Please heal me or pay attention to me, Christ
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALICIA SERRAT, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, TIM RICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind