On the original 1970 concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar—which served as the “original cast” recording before the show ever hit the stage—the lead guitar duties were shared by two primary musicians, both of whom were members of Joe Cocker’s backing group, The Grease Band:
- Henry McCullough: He played both electric and acoustic guitar. McCullough is perhaps the most famous guitarist associated with the album; he later joined Paul McCartney & Wings and provided the iconic solo on “My Love.”
- Neil Hubbard: He played electric guitar. Hubbard was also a session veteran who later played with Roxy Music and B.B. King.
While both contributed heavily to the rock-opera’s gritty sound, McCullough is frequently credited with many of the more prominent, bluesy lead lines.
Additional Guitar Contributions
The recording was a massive undertaking that utilized several other notable session players for specific textures:
- Chris Spedding: A prolific British session guitarist who contributed additional guitar work.
- Clive Hicks, Louis Stewart, and Steve Vaughan: Also credited with guitar parts on the original 2-LP set.
Key Musical Context
The “band” behind the 1970 recording was essentially a powerhouse of British rock at the time. Along with McCullough and Hubbard, the core rhythm section included:
- Alan Spenner: Bass
- Bruce Rowland: Drums
- Ian Gillan: The lead singer of Deep Purple, who provided the vocals for Jesus.
This lineup is a big reason why the original album has a much harder, more authentic “blues-rock” feel compared to the more polished orchestral arrangements of later stage and film versions.
Bonus:
Bright, shiny objects! 
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