What's the Buzz? Celebrity Worship and Fandom Experiences of Ted Neeley (Jesus Christ Superstar)

This article deals with the question in what ways the fandom surrounding Jesus Christ Superstar actor Ted Neeley can be understood as a form of religious celebrity worship. On the basis of an empirical study among Dutch fans of Neeley, we argue that celebrity worship as proposed by the most influential scholars on this subject was not present in the fandom surrounding Neeley, but that traces of it could still be identified - albeit in a scattered and altered manner. Being perceived as the representation of the religious myth of Superstar, a Jesus-like person and a religious guide, Neeley had religious significance for his fans, suggesting that the concept of celebrity worship is in some way still applicable here.