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radioThese are reader comments for the article 'A Man Dies: The '60s Christian rock opera that predated Jesus Christ Superstar'
Reader Comments
Posted by Christopher John Bri in Cromer, Norfolk, UK @ 16:55 on Jul 10 2014
Exhall Grange School was a direct grant government establishment for the education of boys and girls with a range of disabilities, principally eyesight-related. We had a thriving drama group and a school rock band and we went in for experimental multimedia performance including recognized theatre of the absurd and original sketches and longer pieces we devised ourselves under the direction of a teacher who was a leading light in the Coventry amateur dramatics scene. I arrived with my guitar in 1963 and soon brought together a band of players and singers, most of whom learned what they knew from listening to records and picking my brains. One day, I think it was in 1966, our staid music teacher who had little to do with my group handed me an LP and a set of sheet music mostly in e-flat and asked me what we could make of it. Our production of A Man Dies resulted and we performed it in school and at local churches to some acclaim. The piece made a profound impression on our young minds and we felt that this was the right way to present the New Testament story to the youth of the day. Now I have a young teenage guitar pupil looking for material to perform with her school friends and I wonder whether the time is right for a revival of A Man Dies.
Exhall Grange School was a direct grant government establishment for the education of boys and girls with a range of disabilities, principally eyesight-related. We had a thriving drama group and a school rock band and we went in for experimental multimedia performance including recognized theatre of the absurd and original sketches and longer pieces we devised ourselves under the direction of a teacher who was a leading light in the Coventry amateur dramatics scene. I arrived with my guitar in 1963 and soon brought together a band of players and singers, most of whom learned what they knew from listening to records and picking my brains. One day, I think it was in 1966, our staid music teacher who had little to do with my group handed me an LP and a set of sheet music mostly in e-flat and asked me what we could make of it. Our production of A Man Dies resulted and we performed it in school and at local churches to some acclaim. The piece made a profound impression on our young minds and we felt that this was the right way to present the New Testament story to the youth of the day. Now I have a young teenage guitar pupil looking for material to perform with her school friends and I wonder whether the time is right for a revival of A Man Dies.
Reply by Peter McGeer in Sidmouth Devon @ 16:50 on Jan 10 2016
This I think will be of interest to Chris and Mike. I met John in Warsaw a few years back. He is quite a star in Poland (although you may know this already.
https://pl-pl.facebook.com/JohnPorterBand
petermcgeer@gmail.com
This I think will be of interest to Chris and Mike. I met John in Warsaw a few years back. He is quite a star in Poland (although you may know this already.
https://pl-pl.facebook.com/JohnPorterBand
petermcgeer@gmail.com
Reply by Mike Pengelly in Plymouth, Devon @ 00:31 on Nov 3 2015
My comment is not so much to do with the subject A Man Dies, more to do with Chris Bridgman himself, who I remember very well from Exhall Grange School. Hi Chris. Hope you are doing well. Spot on with your comment about the music teacher. You influenced a lot of us to pick up a guitar, and I thank you for that. I can play a reasonable standard and that is gecausecImused to watch you play and want to do the same. Remember the school group. Good luck to you. If you fancy coming to a school reunion one day there will be people there who will remember you. Take care.
My comment is not so much to do with the subject A Man Dies, more to do with Chris Bridgman himself, who I remember very well from Exhall Grange School. Hi Chris. Hope you are doing well. Spot on with your comment about the music teacher. You influenced a lot of us to pick up a guitar, and I thank you for that. I can play a reasonable standard and that is gecausecImused to watch you play and want to do the same. Remember the school group. Good luck to you. If you fancy coming to a school reunion one day there will be people there who will remember you. Take care.
Posted by Glyn Walden in Diss Norfolk @ 17:54 on Dec 8 2013
We performed this play in Norwich in 1962.
I remember 'Blues in The Night' and 'Gentle Christ'.
Gentle Christ wise and good, we lead hime to a cross of wood.
A wonderful memory.
We performed this play in Norwich in 1962.
I remember 'Blues in The Night' and 'Gentle Christ'.
Gentle Christ wise and good, we lead hime to a cross of wood.
A wonderful memory.
Posted by Patricia Sullivan in New Forest area @ 17:17 on May 18 2013
I am amazed that I was able to find this. I am 69 now and saw this play on TV whilst still at school. I have never forgotton it. It was very much ahead of it's time. The music and lyrics were wonderful. Would love to see it again. I cannot remember if it was colour or B&W.
I am amazed that I was able to find this. I am 69 now and saw this play on TV whilst still at school. I have never forgotton it. It was very much ahead of it's time. The music and lyrics were wonderful. Would love to see it again. I cannot remember if it was colour or B&W.
Posted by ANTHONY MARTINEZ in Tegucigalpa Honduras @ 05:02 on Oct 22 2012
I find this very interesting. I must say that maybe this is where it was used for first time rock and roll in Christianity. Long before Larry Norman or "The Mind Garage" combine rock and roll with Christian lyrics, it seems that in England they were doing it. I heard of groups like "The Joystrings, The Pilgrims, The Condors, The Envoys, The Pebbles and many more, but maybe everything began with this opera. I did not know that before this opera, someone has done Rock and roll with Christian lyrics. I must give credit as "Christian rock pioneers." I have a Facebook page called "Classic Christian Rock", published music of the 60's 70's and 80's. but I've always show people Christian bands from England that not many know, today many believe that Larry Norman was the one who gave birth to Christian rock, but I give credit to this opera, and in general to all groups of England the 60's. God bless you, visit my Facebook page at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Christian-Rock/202191 833131951?fref=ts
I find this very interesting. I must say that maybe this is where it was used for first time rock and roll in Christianity. Long before Larry Norman or "The Mind Garage" combine rock and roll with Christian lyrics, it seems that in England they were doing it. I heard of groups like "The Joystrings, The Pilgrims, The Condors, The Envoys, The Pebbles and many more, but maybe everything began with this opera. I did not know that before this opera, someone has done Rock and roll with Christian lyrics. I must give credit as "Christian rock pioneers." I have a Facebook page called "Classic Christian Rock", published music of the 60's 70's and 80's. but I've always show people Christian bands from England that not many know, today many believe that Larry Norman was the one who gave birth to Christian rock, but I give credit to this opera, and in general to all groups of England the 60's. God bless you, visit my Facebook page at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Christian-Rock/202191 833131951?fref=ts
Posted by Peter Lewis in Sheffield @ 20:07 on Apr 7 2012
With my group the Liverpool Raiders I produced and sang the songs in 'A Man Dies' in various churches in Norfolk and elsewhere. For the crowd scenes we involved the local youths who jived to the beat numbers.
I rewrote some of the music in places but kept to all the words of the script. We also did evenings based around the the Man Dies songs. In the 70's I found myself on the Break for Faith team of Radio Hallam with none other than Rev Ernest Marvin who co-wrote A Man Dies.
With my group the Liverpool Raiders I produced and sang the songs in 'A Man Dies' in various churches in Norfolk and elsewhere. For the crowd scenes we involved the local youths who jived to the beat numbers.
I rewrote some of the music in places but kept to all the words of the script. We also did evenings based around the the Man Dies songs. In the 70's I found myself on the Break for Faith team of Radio Hallam with none other than Rev Ernest Marvin who co-wrote A Man Dies.
Reply by Dorothy Denis in Paris @ 14:39 on Aug 16 2012
I would very much like to obtain the music of A Man Dies. It was introduced to me by a Franciscan priest in India and soon this bit of music became our staple. I have such precious memories of it. Could you please, please tell me where I can find the Album?? Thanks so much!
I would very much like to obtain the music of A Man Dies. It was introduced to me by a Franciscan priest in India and soon this bit of music became our staple. I have such precious memories of it. Could you please, please tell me where I can find the Album?? Thanks so much!
Posted by Hugh McKay in Edinburgh @ 15:33 on May 14 2011
Hi
Having just read your piece on A Man Dies..In the early sixties, sixty two to be precise I was a pupil of Moray House School an annex of Moray House College in Edinburgh. Being our last year at school we were given the chance to join a drama class headed by a chap called Callam Anderson and his team. Our artistic advisor was Mrs Millroy, mother of Jack Millroy of Francie and Josie fame. We put the play on at the Moray House Theater for two nights. I was given the chance of playing Jesus an enjoyed every moment of the experience. The memory has stayed with me since that time. The image on the above album cover brought back many good memories.
Yours Hugh Mckay
Hi
Having just read your piece on A Man Dies..In the early sixties, sixty two to be precise I was a pupil of Moray House School an annex of Moray House College in Edinburgh. Being our last year at school we were given the chance to join a drama class headed by a chap called Callam Anderson and his team. Our artistic advisor was Mrs Millroy, mother of Jack Millroy of Francie and Josie fame. We put the play on at the Moray House Theater for two nights. I was given the chance of playing Jesus an enjoyed every moment of the experience. The memory has stayed with me since that time. The image on the above album cover brought back many good memories.
Yours Hugh Mckay
Posted by Bill Krouwel in Carmarthen @ 13:38 on May 3 2011
I guess there's absolutely no chance of the LP being reissued?!? ....
I guess there's absolutely no chance of the LP being reissued?!? ....
Reply by Patricia Sullivan in close to the New Forest @ 17:00 on Apr 18 2014
I found it all on youtube. However, the play is not acted but all the music is there on two sessions.
I simplt typed in 'youtube - A Man dies - Rock Opera 1960's'.
Maybe you have found it already.
I found it all on youtube. However, the play is not acted but all the music is there on two sessions.
I simplt typed in 'youtube - A Man dies - Rock Opera 1960's'.
Maybe you have found it already.
Posted by Nigel Coatsworth in Dudleston Heath @ 12:44 on Apr 2 2011
What a fascinating story, Peter. I'm so glad that I met you in Cremorne Gardens last Tuesday. The story of how it came to be reminds of another "amazing" happening of the 60's with the Ton-Up Club of Bikers which began with, I think, another clergyman, an Anglican, himself a biker, who invited bikers who used to hang around a certain area to come to church - and they did! And the club grew from there.
What wonderful insight and courage which led to such snowballing of events with A Man Dies. Thanks for the research.
Nigel
What a fascinating story, Peter. I'm so glad that I met you in Cremorne Gardens last Tuesday. The story of how it came to be reminds of another "amazing" happening of the 60's with the Ton-Up Club of Bikers which began with, I think, another clergyman, an Anglican, himself a biker, who invited bikers who used to hang around a certain area to come to church - and they did! And the club grew from there.
What wonderful insight and courage which led to such snowballing of events with A Man Dies. Thanks for the research.
Nigel
The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.
I played Mary Magdalen when A Man Dies was performed at Loughborough a College in 1962! Zeke and the ZMen was the band.