10 Best Rock Operas
- Posted by Nick Scaramuzzo
- Comments (28)
Pity the poor rock opera: the most garish example of pure decadence the music industry has to offer. It's not enough to put out a record -- you have to make a self-proclaimed mah-sterpiece. It's like one of those horror stories you hear about famous people who have so much money, they start going insane. In honor of Green Day's 'American Idiot' reaching Broadway and Roger Waters' revival of 'The Wall,' here's to the rock operas that don't make us want to shatter glass and murder the fat lady.
10. 'Franks Wild Years,' Tom Waits
This 1987 "Operachi Romantico in Two Acts" was first performed in Chicago by the Steppenwolf Theater Company a year earlier and has given us such classics as 'Way Down in the Hole' (popularized by the epic show 'The Wire') and 'Innocent When You Dream.' Inspired by a single track of the same name from Waits's 'Swordfishtrombones' album, 'Franks' tells the tale of a sad sack who burns down his old life and heads out for adventure.
9. 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' Original Cast
John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's 1999 off-Broadway smash introduced a transgender anti-hero with a loony backstory and full frontal audacity. The tunes are by turns Beatlesque and Ziggy- and Iggy-ish, inspiring covers by Frank Black, Sleater-Kinney, They Might Be Giants and Dar Williams, among many others, proving once again that anger is an energy.
8. 'Quadrophenia,' the Who
Before 'Sybil' and 'The United States of Tara,' this 1973 rock opera was our introduction to dissociative identity disorder. Titled as a play on the more classic term – schizophrenia -- this song cycle centered on a boy with four different personalities. Features some of the all-time Who numbers, including 'Love Reign O'er Me' and '5:15.'
7. 'Joe's Garage, Acts 1-3,' Frank Zappa
Predating 'Footloose,' Zappa's 1979 comic tale is a rock opera about what would happen if music became illegal. Zappa appears on the cover in blackface, pledges his devotion to 'Catholic Girls' ("with their tiny little mustache") and asks the burning musical question 'Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?' And then the fun really begins. Tipper Gore didn't stand a chance.
6. 'American Idiot,' Green Day
It's 'Pump Up the Volume' for the aughts. Originally premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theater this past September, Green Day's 2004 album turned musical has now made its to the Great White Way. While the thematic push of "rage versus love" remains constant, ultimately it's a great, poppy homage to what punk rock is all about.
5. 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
In the spirit of other period musicals, like 'Hair' and 'Godspell,' this rock opera/musical/dinner theater piece had some real chops. Deep Purple's Ian Gillan sang the original Jesus, and Murray Head ('One Night in Bangkok') was the original Judas. It certainly was well-timed: In 1971, every longhair under 30 looked like the Second Coming.
4. 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,' David Bowie
Why hasn't this amazing Bowie album from 1972 shown up on Broadway yet? They could even repurpose the old spaceship from 'Cats.'
3. 'Southern Rock Opera,' Drive-by Truckers
The classic Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup may have perished in that awful plane crash, but the band left behind a fine legacy for Drive-by Truckers, the band that would define what it was like to grow up in the South in their wake. This 2001 'Southern Rock Opera' tells Patterson Hood's semi-autobographical tale through the constant touchstone of the Skynyrd legend. Sample song title: 'Shut Up and Get on the Plane.'
2. 'The Wall,' Pink Floyd
Nervous breakdowns are natural subjects for rock operas. Think about it: You're a rich pop star constantly seeking a way to top your last effort. You're on the road nonstop. Sex, drugs and alcohol probably flow at a rate as common as going to the bathroom. Where else is there to go? You could lock the door, stop sleeping and write your suicide-note opus. One thing is certain: Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' should never be listened to (or watched) under the influence of anything at all.
1. 'Tommy,' the Who
Predictable? Yes. Awesome? Yes. This 1969 rock opera was the moment where the rest of the guys decided to keep Roger Daltrey in the band. He owned Tommy. So much so that he was the only one who could play him in Ken Russell's movie version. Thanks to that endeavor, we will forever have nightmares about Tina Turner tweaking.
10. 'Franks Wild Years,' Tom WaitsThis 1987 "Operachi Romantico in Two Acts" was first performed in Chicago by the Steppenwolf Theater Company a year earlier and has given us such classics as 'Way Down in the Hole' (popularized by the epic show 'The Wire') and 'Innocent When You Dream.' Inspired by a single track of the same name from Waits's 'Swordfishtrombones' album, 'Franks' tells the tale of a sad sack who burns down his old life and heads out for adventure.
9. 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' Original Cast John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's 1999 off-Broadway smash introduced a transgender anti-hero with a loony backstory and full frontal audacity. The tunes are by turns Beatlesque and Ziggy- and Iggy-ish, inspiring covers by Frank Black, Sleater-Kinney, They Might Be Giants and Dar Williams, among many others, proving once again that anger is an energy.
8. 'Quadrophenia,' the WhoBefore 'Sybil' and 'The United States of Tara,' this 1973 rock opera was our introduction to dissociative identity disorder. Titled as a play on the more classic term – schizophrenia -- this song cycle centered on a boy with four different personalities. Features some of the all-time Who numbers, including 'Love Reign O'er Me' and '5:15.'
7. 'Joe's Garage, Acts 1-3,' Frank ZappaPredating 'Footloose,' Zappa's 1979 comic tale is a rock opera about what would happen if music became illegal. Zappa appears on the cover in blackface, pledges his devotion to 'Catholic Girls' ("with their tiny little mustache") and asks the burning musical question 'Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?' And then the fun really begins. Tipper Gore didn't stand a chance.
6. 'American Idiot,' Green DayIt's 'Pump Up the Volume' for the aughts. Originally premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theater this past September, Green Day's 2004 album turned musical has now made its to the Great White Way. While the thematic push of "rage versus love" remains constant, ultimately it's a great, poppy homage to what punk rock is all about.
5. 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim RiceIn the spirit of other period musicals, like 'Hair' and 'Godspell,' this rock opera/musical/dinner theater piece had some real chops. Deep Purple's Ian Gillan sang the original Jesus, and Murray Head ('One Night in Bangkok') was the original Judas. It certainly was well-timed: In 1971, every longhair under 30 looked like the Second Coming.
4. 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,' David BowieWhy hasn't this amazing Bowie album from 1972 shown up on Broadway yet? They could even repurpose the old spaceship from 'Cats.'
3. 'Southern Rock Opera,' Drive-by TruckersThe classic Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup may have perished in that awful plane crash, but the band left behind a fine legacy for Drive-by Truckers, the band that would define what it was like to grow up in the South in their wake. This 2001 'Southern Rock Opera' tells Patterson Hood's semi-autobographical tale through the constant touchstone of the Skynyrd legend. Sample song title: 'Shut Up and Get on the Plane.'
2. 'The Wall,' Pink Floyd Nervous breakdowns are natural subjects for rock operas. Think about it: You're a rich pop star constantly seeking a way to top your last effort. You're on the road nonstop. Sex, drugs and alcohol probably flow at a rate as common as going to the bathroom. Where else is there to go? You could lock the door, stop sleeping and write your suicide-note opus. One thing is certain: Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' should never be listened to (or watched) under the influence of anything at all.
1. 'Tommy,' the WhoPredictable? Yes. Awesome? Yes. This 1969 rock opera was the moment where the rest of the guys decided to keep Roger Daltrey in the band. He owned Tommy. So much so that he was the only one who could play him in Ken Russell's movie version. Thanks to that endeavor, we will forever have nightmares about Tina Turner tweaking.
-- James Sullivan also contributed to this article.
- Filed under: The Hit List





Reader Comments(1 of 2)
userpersonat 4-14-2010
You forgot Queensrÿche's 'Operations Mindcrime'.
aszureat 4-15-2010
This guy is a hack. Where's mindcrime? Journey to the center of the earth? I think he got his list from wikipedia
luisat 4-15-2010
This list is not relevant, it is based on a confusion bewtween "CONCEPTUAL" with "ROCK OPERA" albums. As i understand, the term "Rock Opera" applies to: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, HAIR, TOMMY, SF SORROW, FREUDIANA..among not many others.
Also it omits great pieces of art such as "BRAVE" "MISPLACED CHILDHOOD", "CLUTCHIIN AT STRAWS", "MARBLES" and "HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD" all by MARILLION, "OPERATION MINDCRIME II AND II" by Queensrÿche, Genesis "LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY", YES "TALES FROM TOPOGRAPIC OCEANS", the Kinks "Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround", Part One, "ARTHUR", "PRESERVATION", "SCHOOLBOYS IN DISGRACE" and "SOAP OPERA" albums among others.Also THE BLACK PARADE by My Chemical Romance.
Certainly is up to debate if "Tommy" or "Quadrophenia" should be at the TOP of the list. To me "Quadrophenia", is more complex and relevant.....and should be the at the top.
Texastentialistat 4-15-2010
2112!!!
blumat 4-16-2010
SF SORROW - Pretty Things a rock opera that predates these and is great!!
Ryan Talbotat 4-15-2010
2112 is not a rock opera.
But where is Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway?!?!?!?!
Benat 4-15-2010
You forgot Op:MC and Dreamtheater's Scenes from a Memory. How the hell does Green Day get on there but you skip Queensryche?
mikehat 4-15-2010
BONUS points for including the often overlooked Frank Zappa. He was a brilliant composer, an excellent musician and a very, very intelligent person as well. Anyone that isn't familiar with "Joe's Garage" should be required to give it a listen before adding comments.
RealityChuckat 4-15-2010
You missed the classic "Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds," which, despite its clunky title, has the best story of any rock opera. Great music, too.
brendanat 4-15-2010
I must agree green day over Queensryche...Over Quadrophenia...Are you guys nuts?
ozricaleat 4-16-2010
You obviously never heard of Ayreon.
Joeyat 4-15-2010
And where's Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds?
Delbutat 4-16-2010
I'm afraid it's another Subjective piece. Although i'm a Who fan -and I think Quad is better than Tommy -I agree that there is too much already mentioned above left off the list. Jeff Wayne etc. et al.
derekat 4-15-2010
Always felt that Pink Floyd's Animals doesn't get the recognition it deserves. That shit is awesome
steveat 4-16-2010
I think the Who's "Tommy" is far better if you hear the live version, such as "Live at Leeds- Deluxe Edition," recorded in 1970. I've rarely heard music so raw, intense, and powerful. The studio album sounds very weak in comparison! As far as the studio efforts are concerned, "Quadrophenia" is superior.
"The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" by Genesis is far more impressive than anything on this list- and I'm a huge Who fan. If you haven't heard it, you're in for a treat!
And for something completely different: How about the futuristic rap concept album "Deltron 3030?" I'm not a rap fan, and I give it a very high recommendation!
Scottat 4-20-2010
Totally agree with you on Live at Leeds version of Tommy. Absolutely fantastic!!!!
Danat 4-16-2010
The comment in the Tommy review about the rest of the guys keeping Daltrey in the band is hysterical. Pete may have been the songwriter, but he will have to remain forever thankful to Daltrey for asking him to join the band. It's Rogers band, but due to Petes ego(and major songwriting talent) we all have to pretend it's all about him.
ELLEat 4-20-2010
QUADROPHENIA SOLO ALL'OTTAVO POSTO??????? MI CHIEDO CHI è QUESTO IDIOTA CHE HA STILATO LA LISTA. POSSO ESSERE DACCORDO CON IL PRIMO POSTO DI TOMMY (NON SMETTEREI MAI DI ASCOLTARLA)MA A FIANCO CI STA QUADROFHENIA(SOLO PERCHè SUCCESIVA)INSIEME A THE WALL, AMERICAN IDIOT DAVANTI A QUADROPHENIA??????NON CI POSSO CREDERE!! GENTE NON CREDETECI NEPPURE VOI!
michael hanleyat 4-17-2010
I listen to Tommy 1-2 times a year. It is fantastic.
However, i listen to Quadrophenia 3-4 times a month! Still to this date. it got me through adolesecence and means more to me now. Eddie Vedder would concur. :-)
If you look around, www.longliverock.org you will find some live versions from 1973-4 and 1996-7 that are astounding.
Im still searching for my favourite: Darien Lake 1997.
Un-freaking-believable version. The live version from the Royal Albert Hall from 2 weeks ago is pretty sweet!
Duncanat 4-27-2010
The Wall is the greatest album of all time. Suck it, Daltrey.