AD/BC: A Rock Opera
December 10, 2014 8:53 AM   Subscribe

Just in time for Christmas, the internet has rediscovered the 1978 recording of a rock opera detailing the little-known story of the innkeeper at the nativity. You may recognize some familiar faces and voices. (slyt)
posted by TheWhiteSkull (18 comments total) 20 users marked this as a favorite
 
When the music kicked in I was 90% certain he was going to sing the Snuff Box theme
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 8:58 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


I found this on a British site a few years back and enjoyed it then. I hadn't even thought of looking for it again on Youtube. it's definitely of a piece with Christopher Guest's work...
posted by jkosmicki at 9:12 AM on December 10, 2014


I grew up listening to my parents' copy of Jesus Christ Superstar on double LP. When I watched this in the popup window without the giveaway YouTube description I honestly thought it was an inanely bad knockoff from the same era. Brilliant.
posted by bassomatic at 9:13 AM on December 10, 2014


What an awesome piece of satire! Best I've seen since that other rock opera from the mid-80s


Wait what? It's not? .... oh my that just ramped up the delicious cheesiness all the way to 11. (see what i did there?)
posted by forforf at 9:25 AM on December 10, 2014


Oh my God, I am going to laugh until tears fall out of my face, aren't I? Thank you!
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:33 AM on December 10, 2014


Why use the Commodore 64 font to set the mood for something broadcast in 1978?
posted by scrowdid at 9:41 AM on December 10, 2014


Jeepers Creepers
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:35 AM on December 10, 2014


When will Matt Berry finally get another show? He did an Adult Swim pilot that wasn't picked up a few years ago - despite the fact that it was funny and chocked full of Matt Berry.
posted by rock swoon has no past at 10:37 AM on December 10, 2014


I loved this so much when I found it a couple of years ago I bought copies for everyone. It is on iTunes, or it was.

Also highly recommended is I, Regress. And Matt Berry's folk rock work and basically everything Matt Berry has ever done because he is a genius dreamy mans.
posted by winna at 10:59 AM on December 10, 2014


I watch this every Christmas. And New Year's. And Channukah. And summer. And winter. And fall. And spring.
posted by I-baLL at 11:02 AM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


"When will Matt Berry finally get another show?"

I guess you missed this:
Toast of London

Skip the pilot, which I did not find good - maybe that is what you are referring to on Adult Swim? If you thought it funny check the series - way better in my opinion. It just got a renewal for a third season! The guy who really needs another show is Matthew Holness.
posted by Ashwagandha at 11:31 AM on December 10, 2014 [4 favorites]


Was the intro narrator Christopher Walken doing an English accent?
posted by Chuffy at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2014


Was the intro narrator Christopher Walken doing an English accent?

I think that's a pretty good description of Matt Berry doing his "Serious Actor" voice.

Which is what that was.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:24 PM on December 10, 2014


Toast of London isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but its voiceover segments are pretty funny, speaking of Matt Berry's "serious actor" voice. The show at least has a unique "feel" to it. I haven't really been able to put my finger on it. Toast alternately notices and ignores the ridiculousness going on around him and the people around him alternately notice and ignore Toast's ridiculousness. It's kinda sursurreal, I guess.
posted by flechsig at 5:16 PM on December 10, 2014


Christ, this changes everything

tears
posted by OHenryPacey at 8:45 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]


Wikipedia has the background info
posted by DanCall at 1:25 AM on December 11, 2014


"When the music kicked in I was 90% certain he was going to sing the Snuff Box theme"

Speaking of the Snuff Box theme, I remember being in the movie theatre, watching Dredd, when all of a sudden the Snuff Box theme started playing during the scene where they showed the hacker guy. That was the most randomest thing ever.

EDIT: Found a blog post by Matt Berry that has the clip from the movie: http://marvelousmatt.tumblr.com/post/40834852372/video-friday-the-snuff-box-theme-in-the-movie
posted by I-baLL at 6:54 AM on December 11, 2014


....aaaand apparently Matt Berry has a SoundCloud account:

https://soundcloud.com/mattberry

I am now jamming out to the Snuff Box theme.
posted by I-baLL at 7:00 AM on December 11, 2014


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