Watch Alice Cooper perform ‘King Herod’s Song’ on Jesus Christ Superstar Live
Alice Cooper starred as the malevolent King Herod in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live on Sunday night (1st April).
The live television special was lauded by critics and currently holds a 100% fresh rating on reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with Alice lavished with praise for his performance.
Footage has been uploaded online of Alice performing ‘King Herod’s Song’ in the production. Looking resplendent in a shiny orange and gold suit and clutching a skull-tipped cane, Alice taunts Jesus – played by R&B singer John Legend – as he theatrically dispatches the song.
In the play, King Kerod – the ruler of Galilee – deems Jesus a ‘phony Messiah’ after the ‘Son of God’ refuses to perform miracles for him.
Watch ‘King Herod’s Song’ here:
Jesus Christ Superstar Live was executive produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, and directed by British theatre director David Leveaux.
When Alice was snapped up for the role of King Herod in December, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt, said: “Alice Cooper, whose theatricality is the stuff of legend, is the perfect rock star to play Herod in our live production.
“Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote a show-stopping musical number for Herod and we all look forward to the ‘King of Shock Rock’ taking on the King of Judea. As the casting for ‘Superstar’ ramps up, we can feel the excitement building for this brand new concert experience of what has long been considered the original rock musical.”
Alice previously recorded ‘King Herod’s Song’ at the request of Lloyd Webber and Rice for the 2000 release of a cast album from the 1996 production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the UK.
Don’t forget, Nights With Alice Cooper airs on Planet Rock at 7pm on Mondays, and Tuesdays to Fridays at 10pm. Listen here.