Claim: Tim Rice wrote a rock opera with Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice . The musical started as a rock opera concept album before its Broadway debut in 1971 . The musical is sung-through , with no spoken dialogue . The story is loosely based on the Gospels ' accounts of the last week of Jesus 's life , beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ending with the crucifixion . It depicts political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus that are not present in the Bible .   The work 's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters . A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas , who is depicted as a tragic figure dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples . Contemporary attitudes and sensibilities , as well as slang , pervade the lyrics , and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events . Stage and film productions accordingly contain many intentional anachronisms .