Who Said We’Re More Popular Than Jesus

Did the Beatles Really Say They Were More Popular than Jesus?

Images courtesy of the Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images A profile of John Lennon’s life was published in the London Evening Standard in March 1966, written by Maureen Cleave, a reporter and acquaintance of the Beatles. “This is the way John Lennon lives.” With a strained relationship with his father, a gorilla suit, and five television sets among the toys he purchased with his still-relatively new wealth, and the fact that sexual exercise was the only physical activity that he found interesting anymore, the 25-year-old Lennon spoke candidly about his life in the interview.

The statements made by John Lennon concerning Christianity, which would become so famous in a few months, did not appear to be very noteworthy in such a mix.

I’m not sure which will die first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity, but we’re becoming more popular than Jesus right now.

For me, it’s the way they’re twisting things that wrecks everything.” Lennon had been reading about religion during his time off from the Beatles’ obligations, according to Cleave’s assessment of the musician.

  1. In subsequent reprints of the feature in various international media, including The New York Times, the comment was once again widely overlooked.
  2. In response to the statement, Birmingham, Alabama, radio DJs Tommy Charles and Doug Layton called it “blasphemous” and proposed a “Ban the Beatles” campaign, in which radio stations would refuse to play the band’s songs in retaliation.
  3. As a result, Al Benn, the manager of the United Press International Birmingham office, released a report on the Beatles Boycott that shocked viewers in the Evangelical Southern United States of America.
  4. The Ku Klux Klan of South Carolina became involved, attaching the Beatles’ albums to a cross and then lighting it on fire before fleeing the scene.
  5. The Beatles’ manager, Cleave, stressed that John was not equating the Beatles to Christ in his comments to the press.
  6. Despite the fact that Epstein gave American venues the option of canceling forthcoming concerts by the Beatles, none took advantage of the offer.
  7. “I never intended that to come out as a bad anti-religious statement,” Lennon stated.
  8. I’m still not sure what I’ve done or how I got here.
  9. Even yet, small groups of religious demonstrators and members of the Ku Klux Klan nevertheless met the Beatles at their Southern gigs, which ultimately proved to be their final tour.

Following this, with the exception of a few live concerts, the Beatles were strictly a recording studio band.

50 Years After “Bigger Than Jesus,” We Forget How Shocking the Rest of That Beatles Interview Was

On October 26, 1965, the Beatles performed at Buckingham Palace in London. Peter Skingley is a British author and journalist who lives in the United Kingdom. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of an interview with John Lennon by the London Evening Standard, which has become an indelible part of the Beatles’ legacy. “We’re more popular than Jesus right now,” John Lennon said to music writer Maureen Cleave in an interview. “I’m not sure which will perish first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity,” says the author.

  1. At first glance, no one appeared to be paying attention to Lennon’s remark.
  2. After that, the repercussions was legendary, with public bonfires of Beatles recordings, protests by the Ku Klux Klan, DJs refusing to play the band’s songs, pastors preaching against them, and an ill-fated tour that turned out to be their final one.
  3. When you read it now, it’s a fascinating, if not often painful, time capsule from five decades ago.
  4. Having lived in opulent suburban homes loaded with toys and souvenirs and unopened leather-bound books for three years, Cleave discovers them parked in their garages next to Ferraris and Rolls Royces.

They appear to have had no difficulty conversing with the journalist, who is a friend of the band and is frequently cited as the inspiration for the song “Norwegian Wood.” The remark “more popular than Jesus” has become less surprising in recent years, much like an overplayed record that has lost its impact.

  • According to Cleaves’ research, “The Beatles” collectively stated that “Show business belongs to the Jews” in a reversal of her story that published in the New York Times Magazine in July of 1966, “Show business belongs to the Jews.” “It’s a component of the Jewish religion,” says the author.
  • “).
  • “It’s not a major problem.” ) He was not asked to follow up by the group of journalists that had gathered.
  • “A lot of the unsightly ones are from other countries, aren’t they?” Ringo Starr, on the other hand, describes the band as “siamese quads eating out of the same dish,” referring to how close they are to one another.
  • “Her parents signed her over to me when I married her,” he says.
  • McCartney decries racism in the United States, calling it “a miserable place where everybody who is black is made to appear to be an unwashed nigger.” That statement appeared on the cover of Datebook as well, just above Lennon’s Jesus reference.
  • I don’t need to debate about it since I’m correct and I’ll be proven correct.
  • Jesus was fine, but his disciples were clumsy and uninteresting in comparison.
  • The world of celebrity was different back then, when celebrities weren’t surrounded by an army of public relations professionals who prevented them from saying anything interesting—and, of course, a horde of onlookers equipped with smartphones who were ready to tweet every word they said.
  • And it’s not unexpected that literalists in America were going to interpret the Beatles’ blend of British humour and intellectual-hippie sincerity without regard for nuance and nuanced interpretation.

Only the Jesus phrase appeared to worry them fifty years later, which is astonishing considering how long it had been.

John Lennon Declared The Beatles To Be “More Popular Than Jesus,” On This Day In 1966

What seems to be a tweet from Kanye West was really a legitimate remark from John Lennon, which was published on March 4th, 1966, and was taken from an interview with the legendary Beatle. With the “larger than Jesus” controversy, Lennon’s interview turned from a casual comment into an outright scandal, ultimately leading to the band’s decision to never perform again as a result of the incident. When The Beatles were interviewed by the British journal LondonEvening Standard for a four-part series comprising individual biographies of each member, the statement “more popular than Jesus” was thrown out.

  • It is noteworthy to note that the quote received no public response in the United Kingdom.
  • For your convenience, here is the whole quote: “Christianity will perish.” It will dissipate and shrink.
  • I’m not sure which will die first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity, but we’re becoming more popular than Jesus right now.
  • It’s the way they’ve twisted it that has ruined it for me.
  • The Beatles’ representative, Tony Barrow, offered the interview rights to Datebook, which was interested in profiling the Beatles in light of their newly discovered maturity in their approach to music creating.
  • Everyone in the United States was thinking about The Beatles’ new psychedelic approach at the time since LSD was at the forefront of the new cycle.
  • This raised the ire of the Christian community in America, which resulted in a statewide boycott of The Beatles by radio DJs.
  • The KKK disrupted their gigs by picketing them.
  • Although the general intricacy and maturity of the band’s music was a significant influence in their decision to quit touring, the KKK demonstrations and death threats were undoubtedly a contributing factor.
  • Interestingly, a paper published by the Vatican in 2008 provides a thorough contextualization of the entire scenario.

Beatles ‘More Popular Than Jesus’ – Really? Meaning Of Lennon’s Infamous Quote

Pinterest is the source of this image. Because Maureen Cleave was a journalist who was widely recognized by The Beatles for her professionalism, the group always felt safe sharing their feelings with her. In 1966, Cleave was working on a profile of the band, which would include in-depth interviews with the members, showing what their lives were genuinely like behind the beautiful image the rest of the world had of them. John Lennon’s interview with Cleave took place in his London home, and Cleave was able to uncover a man who was dissatisfied with the implications of his fame and money and wished for a simpler life.

  1. The article “How Does a Beatle Live?” may be found here.
  2. It will dissipate and shrink.
  3. We’ve surpassed Jesus in terms of popularity.
  4. Jesus was fine, but his disciples were clumsy and uninteresting in comparison.
  5. Throughout England, the piece was just another one of the hundreds of articles on the Beatles that had been published.

The Infamous Quote Reached America Months Later

Pinterest is the source of this image. Cleave’s profile was forwarded to DATEbookmagazine’s editor-in-chief, Arthur Unger, many months after it was initially published. DATEbook was a liberal magazine that pushed boundaries by covering supposedly contentious themes and focusing extensively on the horrors of injustice and prejudice. It was published by the Center for American Progress (Unger himself was gay). Using two lines from the article, Unger released the issue on July 29th, with the cover featuring Paul McCartney’s remark that America is “a miserable nation in which everybody who is not white is a disgusting n****r” and John Lennon’s, “I don’t know which will disappear first—rockroll or Christianity.” And it was at this point that the hysteria began, but it was not the traditional Beatlemania that we are used to.

The Outrage May Have Begun Just As A Publicity Stunt

PinterestRadio is the source of this information. Apparently outraged by Lennon’s remark (and maybe in need of some exposure), DJ Tommy Charles of Birmingham, Alabama’s WAQY (Wacky Radio) set off a wave of anti-Beatles vitriol on the airwaves. Because of John Lennon’s “blasphemous” words, Charles began the “Ban the Beatles” campaign, which resulted in the complete cessation of playing their music, even at the height of their success. Although the boycott did not gain much traction, Al Benn, manager of the Birmingham office of United Press International, heard a snippet of Charles’ radio show in which he denounced the Beatles and decided to write a story about it.

This article spread like wildfire and caused widespread panic throughout the United States, particularly in the extreme right-wing Bible Belt in the deep south.

The dust that resulted from the event was to be delivered to the band when they arrived in Memphis for their show the following month, as arranged.

‘Revolver’ Was Released At A Bad Time

Rolling Stone is the source for this information. Massive bonfires, made up of burning Beatles’ albums, were put up by members of the public, radio stations, and even the Ku Klux Klan, who fastened Beatles’ recordings to blazing crosses to create a sense of community. The attendance at a Beatles performance by church members put them in jeopardy of being dismissed from their membership. That this occurred so soon after the uproar over the Beatles’ iconic “Butcher” album cover for their albumYesterdayToday, which was also the subject of a series of Beatles’ bonfires and was immediately changed with less contentious imagery, didn’t help matters either.

Despite the fact that the band regarded the new album as their best work to date, the Jesus statement resulted in a significant drop in sales for the Fab Four.

Did Lennon Really Think The Beatles Were ‘Better’ Than Jesus?

Pinterest is the source of this image. Despite the fact that many people throughout the world – including Christians – were definitely more enthusiastic about The Beatles than they were about Jesus, Lennon’s remark was understandable. Despite the fact that Lennon was not attempting to imply that they were greater than God (the particular words he used were “more popular”), certain outrage-prone elements of the public interpreted his comment in that manner. However, it is true that The Beatles drew such adoration and fanaticism that they were perceived as gods throughout the world; the fervor that accompanied each of their concerts and public appearances could be compared to that of an old-timey religious revival, with members of the audience (primarily girls) losing themselves in the moment, screaming in ecstasy, and occasionally passing out.

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Numerous religious leaders have already expressed similar viewpoints in op-ed pieces published in the Daily Mail and theChurch Times.

According to McCartney, “We’d advise, ‘You should have gospel singing — that’ll draw them in.” Instead of singing tired old hymns, you should be more upbeat and energetic.

As a result, we were of the opinion that the church needed to get its act together.

Lennon Apologized To The Masses

Pinterest is the source of this image. While the Beatles originally responded with laughing and bemusement to the severe criticism of the United States, Brian Epstein quickly brought them back to the real world. He was even inclined to postpone their upcoming tour of the United States, despite the fact that it would cost millions of dollars, because he feared for the lives of the Beatles. Lennon’s supporters, including Clave and Unger, have come to his defense, claiming that his comment has been taken entirely out of context and misinterpreted.

  1. tour in Chicago’s Astor Towers hotel, when Lennon finally seemed to comprehend the gravity of the situation and fell down sobbing in sorrow, in an attempt to satisfy the audience.
  2. He expressed his regret in the following way.
  3. I wasn’t dismissive of it.
  4. I happened to be chatting to a buddy at the time, and I used the phrase ‘Beatles’ as if it were a distant entity – ‘Beatles’ in the way that other people perceive us.
  5. I expressed it in an incorrect manner, which was my mistake.

If it will make you happy, please accept my apologies. I’m still not sure what I’ve done or how I got here. However, if you want me to apologize for what I did, and if doing so would make you happy, then – all right, please accept my apologies on my part.

The U.S. Tour From Hell

Pinterest is the source of this image. Surprisingly, Lennon’s tepid apology was largely accepted for the most part, and people came to grasp what he was actually trying to say. The big “Beatle Bonfire” planned by WAQY, as well as many other public burnings, have been canceled. Despite the fact that they continued with their bonfire on August 13th, lightning struck their transmission tower the next day, crippling their broadcasting equipment and rendering their news director comatose. It is unclear if this was a coincidence or not.

The Beatles embarked on a tour of the United States, where they were confronted by a large number of protesters with placards such as “Beatles Go Home” and “Jesus Died For You, John Lennon.” Even outside of their concert in Washington, D.C.

Herds of demonstrators gathered and insulted them when they landed at Memphis International Airport for their concert, which was interrupted by a firecracker being thrown on stage during the act (this being the most “Southern” location on the tour).

Lennon’s Greatest Fear Came True

Rolling Stone is the source for this information. The entire experience that emerged as a result of the Jesus issue left the band with an unpleasant feeling and made them understand that the good times had come to an end. At one time, George Harrison was on the verge of leaving the band, but they eventually agreed to stop touring and focus only on the studio. Unfortunately, John Lennon’s dread of being assassinated as a result of the comment came true more than a decade later. A Christian who had become a born-again believer, Mark David Chapman was utterly infatuated with the Beatles.

His murder of John Lennon took place on March 8, 1980, outside his New York City apartment building, The Dakota.

The beginnings of the catastrophe may be traced back to that fateful day in 1966, when John Lennon said that The Beatles had surpassed Jesus in popularity.

Tags:Christianity|John Lennon|Religion|The Beatles

Author Emily Morenz (Emo), despite her young age, is a genuine 1960s/1970s fan who may be compared to the Austin Powers of this decade. Her all-vintage attire, preoccupation with old-time rock ‘n’ roll, mid-century bedroom, and 1,200+ vinyl collection give the impression that she has just walked out of a time machine, which she hasn’t. Emo has a radio program on OC’s 101.5 KOCI, where she plays rare treasures from the 1960s and 1970s. She also hosts a podcast, “The RockRoll Sweetheart,” where she teaches rock ‘n’ roll history.

Paul McCartney even invited her up on stage to do a dance routine while she was dressed as a walrus costume.

Emo may also be found surfing waves, skating through a neighborhood, groovin’ ’60s gogo style, and claiming to be able to play the bass guitar among other things. In addition, she has a strong affection for peanut butter and corgis.

When John Lennon Said the Beatles Were More Popular Than Jesus

On March 4, 1966, an item published in the London Evening Standard that would raise quite a commotion in the following months. Journalist Maureen Cleave was working on a series titled “How Does aBeatleLive?” at the time of her encounter with John Lennon, which sparked a firestorm of controversy that stretched well beyond the pages of the London Evening Standard. “Christianity will perish,” John Lennon predicted. “It will dissipate and shrink. I’m not going to fight with you on this. I am correct, and I will be proven correct.

  1. Neither rock ‘n’ roll nor Christianity seem to be the first to fall out of style.
  2. It’s the way they’ve twisted it that has ruined it for me.” The words received little attention in the United Kingdom, but when the phrase was misquoted and reproduced out of context in a teen magazine in the United States, the scandal erupted.
  3. The Beatles, and particularly John Lennon, were for a brief while the embodiment of evil throughout the Bible Belt and beyond, just as they were ready to go on a tour of the United States.
  4. What I just stated was incorrect, or was misunderstood, and now it’s all blown out of proportion.” He went on to say the following in his explanation: It’s possible that if I’d declared that television was more popular than Jesus, I would have gotten away with it, according to Lennon.
  5. I wasn’t disparaging it or putting it down; I was just stating a truth, one that is more applicable to England than it is to the United States.” Lennon and the band were able to survive the incident, and the tour continued as scheduled.
  6. Foreigner, Styx, and Don Felder Reminisce over the Beatles’ Music

When John Lennon Apologized for ‘More Popular Than Jesus’ Comment

The Beatles were facing a challenge as they prepared to go on a 1966 U.S. tour. Despite the fact that hordes of loyal fans were looking forward to the Fab Four’s August tour, many others wanted to protest at scheduled gigs, cancel shows, or even prohibit the quartet outright from performing. In the wake of John Lennon’s comparison between the popularity of the Beatles to Jesus Christ earlier in the year, this was the repercussions. “Christianity will be extinguished,” the singer-guitarist warned British journalist Maureen Cleeve.

  • I’m not going to fight with you on this.
  • We’ve surpassed Jesus in terms of popularity.
  • I’m not sure which will be the first to vanish.” In the United Kingdom, the phrase was received with little annoyance; but, when it was repeated without context in the United States (through the adolescent magazine Datebook), the storms of controversy erupted.
  • Southern radio stations refused to play Beatles songs, Christian organizations burned Beatles recordings, and the band got a slew of death threats as a result of their popularity.
  • Protests against the Beatles had taken place in Spain, Mexico, and South Africa, among other places.
  • With the tour scheduled to begin on August 12 and the band members fearful for their lives, Beatles manager Brian Epstein sought to calm the commotion during a press conference in New York by expressing remorse on John Lennon’s behalf during the press conference.
  • Instead, he elected to have Lennon speak at a press conference in Chicago on the opening day of the tour, which took place in Chicago.
  • Lennon, who was in attendance at the event at the Astor Hotel with his bandmates, first refused to apologize, but was persuaded to do so by Epstein and his press agent, Tony Barrow, who were present at the event.

Everything started because I said something and it wasn’t taken correctly, and now it’s all blown out of proportion.” As a side note, he said, “I think I could have gotten away with saying that television was more popular than Jesus.” The legendary musician responded to a reporter who inquired whether he intended to issue a formal apology: “If you want me to apologize, if doing so would make you happy, then I’m sorry,” he said.

However, even though the press conference was aired and broadcast throughout the world, it did not appear to alleviate the issue, nor did it ease the Beatles’ concerns about their upcoming tour.

The Ku Klux Klan, on the other hand, demonstrated.

The Beatles’ final tour would be their final tour, and it would be their final tour in August 1966. See the Beatles in Rock’s Craziest Conspiracy Theories, a documentary about the band.

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney Says John Lennon’s ‘More Popular Than Jesus’ Comment Was Misunderstood – Here’s What He Really Meant

Even though the Beatles were one of the most well-known bands of all time, their celebrity was not without its controversy. In a 1966 interview with The Evening Standard, John Lennon got himself into a little of trouble. A large number of Christian believers were disturbed by his statement that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.” Paul McCartney, on the other hand, claims that’s not what he intended. Paul McCartney and John Lennon (from left to right) | Courtesy of Bettman/Getty Images On Nov.

Upon the publication of the book, which includes previously unheard lyrics from before The Beatles and covers his post-Beatles bands and solo work, Paul McCartney used the opportunity to clarify John Lennon’s contentious comment.

John Lennon was not bragging about The Beatles

“More popular than Jesus” appears to be an unacceptable comment when taken out of context. McCartney, on the other hand, reminds listeners that this was only a portion of a much lengthier interview. All four Beatles were highlighted in a story published in the Evening Standard. “How Does a Beatle Live?” was the title of the documentary. Paul McCartney admits that he underestimated George Harrison’s contribution to the Beatles. In McCartney’s words, “it was an awful thing to happen since John had just written a really wonderful piece with Maureen Cleave of The Evening Standard.” “It was fairly intelligent, but in the midst of it all, he’s talking about religion, he’s talking about churches, and he’s talking about how the congregations have been declining for some time.

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“Ours was heading in the opposite direction.”

John Lennon didn’t want The Beatles to be ‘more popular than Jesus’

Lennon was not gloating about The Beatles’ fame at the time, according to McCartney, who clarified the situation. Instead, he was bemoaning the fact that popular music had more admirers than established religion at the time. Even in the year 2021, such point of view may still be valid. It was Lennon’s wish that churches would find a way to appeal to young worshipers again and that people would have a feeling of religion in their lives, according to McCartney. “So I believe that’s what he was saying,” McCartney stated of the conversation.

Thus, he was speaking about this and occurred to remark, “We’re more popular than Jesus,” which when you hear it is like ohhhh, you know what he was talking about.”

Paul McCartney remembers backlash against ‘more popular than Jesus’

In 1966, there was no opportunity to clarify what John Lennon truly meant when he said he was “more popular than Jesus.” Even before the advent of modern media, knowledge of The Beatles’ exploits circulated quickly, and the public’s disapproval seemed to follow them everywhere they went. Granted, they were the most renowned individuals on the planet at the time, so whatever they said had a significant impact. Beatlemania was a real phenomenon in the 1960s. McCartney provided the sense of a single enraged individual yelling at The Beatles from the back of their bus.

As McCartney explained, “especially down in the Southern regions of America, where you’ve got a lot of evangelists and stuff, I recall my most distinct vision sitting on the tour bus and seeing the throng outside,” he added.

His rage was directed on something.” John Lennon’s legacy, according to McCartney, was just as important to him in 1966 as it is now.

Both of them, as well as their bandmates, were caught up in the maelstrom of Beatlemania. “It was the four of us vs the rest of the world,” McCartney recalled. I remember thinking to myself, “We were getting into all these bizarre situations, and we had each other to deal with all of them.”

John Lennon: “We’re more popular than Jesus”

The following item appeared in the London Evening Standard newspaper on March 4, 1966, and is reprinted with permission. A fascinating depiction of John Lennon’s home life, written by Maureen Cleave, a close friend of the Beatles, it is a must-read for everyone interested in the band. “How does a Beatle live?” read the headline of the story. “This is how John Lennon spends his life.” It became famous in subsequent months when Lennon’s statements regarding Christianity – “We’re more popular than Jesus today; I don’t know which will go first – rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity” – were reprinted in newspapers and magazines throughout the world, causing outrage.

  • Since then, people have been nervously attempting to determine whether the Beatles’ renown was on the rise or on the decline; they have predicted the demise of the old Beatles and have carefully sought for the new Beatles (which was as pointless as looking for the new Big Ben).
  • It makes no difference whether they are nasty or nice, whether they are married or single, whether they are 25 or 45 years old, or if they appear on Top Of The Pops or do not appear on Top Of The Pops.
  • They are well-known in the same manner that the Queen is well-known.
  • They have the security of a secure life at the top, which they share with her.
  • Paul is the only one who has remained in London.
  • They haven’t worked since Christmas, and their existence is both sequestered and yet ageless in its nature.
  • The crowds are still gathered outside the gates, but The Beatles are only able to see each other.

Ringo and his wife,Maureen, may pay a visit to John and Cyn; John may pay a visit to Ringo; George and Patiencemay pay a visit to John and Cyn; and they may all travel to Ringo’s, of course by automobile, to visit Ringo.

Their favorite pastimes include watching films, playing boisterous games of Buccaneer, and watching television until the broadcast is interrupted by the sound of records being played.

Bedtimes and mealtimes have no significance in and of themselves.

He still looks down his nose, haughty as an eagle, despite the fact that contact lenses have corrected the short sight that generated the expression in the first place.

He is still easy to get along with and tough as nails.

(Fred is his father, and he came to public attention when they became renowned.) ‘He was in town a couple of weeks ago.

This Indian song has been introduced to him by George.

Are you paying attention?

It’s very great.’ And he turned on the television set as well.

‘Christianity will be extinguished,’ he said.

I don’t need to debate about it since I am correct and will be proven correct.

Jesus was fine, but his disciples were clumsy and uninteresting in comparison.

He shops at Asprey’s in lightning-fast bursts these days, and he has some nice wine in his cellar, but he is still remarkably unaffected by his surroundings.

He is currently 25 years old.

There’s a cat named Mimi, named after his aunt, and a purple dining room in the house.

He was surveyed dispassionately by his father, who concluded that it appeared to be the only place for him in his situation.

I couldn’t endure the sight of unattractive individuals since I was five years old.

John brushed over the items in which he had lost interest, including: A suit of armour is referred to as “Sidney,” while a room full of model racing cars is described as “a pastime I had for a week.” “Cyn won’t let me get rid of it,” says the narrator (a fruit machine).

They blink for a year, and one imagines him sitting there till the next Christmas, surrounded by the small winking boxes, until the next Christmas.

A gorilla costume was on his mind, and he expressed regret about the prospect of having to wear one.

Summertime is approaching, and I was thinking of putting it on and driving around in the Ferrari.

As I’ve been thinking about it, it would make a fantastic fur coat if I didn’t wear the head – you see, it has legs, which is what you need for a fur coat.

The instant he gets close to a switch, it blows; six of the blinking boxes, which were supposed to endure till next Christmas, have already started acting strange.

Then there’s the swimming pool, which is surrounded by trees that are dropping down beneath it.

‘It’s nothing like what I ordered,’ he said with a sigh. He desired a mirror at the bottom of the structure. ‘It’s a fantastic household,’ he stated of his family. ‘With the exception of the gorilla suit, which is the only costume that suits me, none of my devices truly work.’

Paul McCartney: Beatles’ ‘more popular than Jesus’ remark was ‘pro-religion’

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Following a successful debut in the United Kingdom, the Liverpool band eventually broke through in the United States, sparking what became known as ” Beatlemania “.

Although the Beatles were enjoying unprecedented popularity at the time, public perception of them began to shift after John Lennon made a religious-related comment.

Signs decrying The Beatles were held up by protesters, including one that read: “Jesus died for YOU, John Lennon.” “God save the Beatles,” said a second, and a third added: “Jesus loves you, do The Beatles?” said a third.

(Image courtesy of GETTY) Following John Lennon’s statement that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus,” protesters set fire to their recordings (Image: GETTY) Earlier this year, Sir Paul claimed that the response to John’s statement was “one of the rare occasions” he observed his bandmate felt “nervous.” He stated in December that John’s statements had been taken out of context and that he was being told a different side of the story than what he was told.

On The Adam Buxton Podcast, the presenter reminded Sir Paul of “the entire controversy” that followed the comment and asked if it had caused him to “despair a little.” Sir Paul said affirmatively.

“He was really expressing some fairly good and upbeat things,” I observed.

John Lennon’s ‘Jesus’ statement, according to Paul McCartney, was one of the ‘few times’ he ever saw him appear ‘nervous’ (Image: GETTY) His slip of the tongue occurred when he was questioned about “The Beatles’ widespread appeal.” The following is what Sir Paul remembered: “He was saying, ‘You know, the point is, all the churches these days are empty,'” he said.

MAKE SURE NOT TO MISS OUT ‘Beatlemania’ began when the band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, when Paul McCartney gave them a ‘never-before-seen nickname’.

In his explanation, Sir Paul stated that the remark “did not go down well” when it reached “America and the Bible belt,” which is a string of devout states in the southern United States.

John Lennon went on to enrage many more people with his opposition to the Vietnam War, which he continued to do (Image: GETTY) The little lad with blonde hair who was hammering on the windows came to mind as I looked out at the throng.

“That was actually rather disturbing, especially because that wasn’t what John had meant to say.” It was at a press conference that I first noticed John become frightened, and it was one of the few occasions I observed him do so.

Paul McCartney teases his new album ‘McCartney III’ in trailer

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” There were throngs of admirers waiting to get a peek and a handshake with Sir Paul, John, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr on a daily basis.

He stated in The Evening Standard in 1966 that the band was “more popular than Jesus” and that he thought they were “more popular than Jesus.” Instead of being received by ecstatic fans who screamed in ecstasy, their tour buses were assaulted, some radio stations refused to play their music, and crowds burnt their recordings as a form of protest.

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“God save the Beatles,” said a second, and a third added: “Jesus loves you, do The Beatles?” said the third.

(Photo courtesy of GETTY.) Following John Lennon’s statement that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus,” protesters set fire to their vinyl albums (Image: GETTY) Earlier this year, Sir Paul claimed that the reaction to John’s statement was “one of the rare occasions” he saw his bandmate felt “nervous.” He stated in December that John’s statements had been taken out of context and that he was being told a different side of the story than what he was being told at the time.

Following that comment, the presenter of The Adam Buxton Podcast reminded Sir Paul of “the entire commotion” and asked whether it had caused him to “despair a little.” Sir Paul responded affirmatively.

” The things he was saying were actually fairly pleasant and upbeat.

It was one of the “few occasions” that Paul McCartney observed John Lennon looking “nervous” when John Lennon quoted the verse from “Jesus,” according to McCartney (Image: GETTY) His slip of the tongue occurred when he was questioned about “The Beatles’ widespread popularity”.

Nobody goes to church now, unlike when we were youngsters, when everyone went to church.’ Nonetheless, in response to his assertion that “Nobody actually went to church,” he stated, “You know, we get more people at our concerts than ever attend to church.” It was stated by him that, “In reality, we have more followers than Jesus.” MAKE SURE NOT TO MISS OUT!

“It was just a throwaway remark, referring to the fact that people weren’t going to church and losing that social aspect.” “America and the Bible belt,” a string of devout states in the southern United States, received the message, Sir Paul revealed.

He couldn’t have been more than 12 at the time.

John Lennon’s Bigger Than Jesus Statement

This comment from John was published in the London Evening Standard on March 4, 1966, in an interview with reporter (and friend of John’s) Maureen Cleave, who was writing about John at the time: “Christianity is on its way out. It will dissipate and shrink. I don’t have to dispute with it since I am correct and will be proven correct. Currently, we’re more popular than Jesus; I’m not sure which will be the first to die – rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was fine, but his disciples were clumsy and uninteresting in comparison.

It was only a minor portion of the overall piece.

Later, on July 29, 2013, Datebook, an American teen magazine based in the United States (the land of the free, particularly in terms of religious freedom), published a remark that had been taken out of context rather than embedded in an article and used it to illustrate part of a front cover story.

  • Rallies of boys and girls trampling on their albums were held, as were bonfires of Beatles memorabilia.
  • It was a comment that was barely noted in the United Kingdom, but it was utterly taken out of context and used to bash John Lennon and The Beatles in a very unjust and un-Christian manner, courtesy of the bible belt of the hypocrite southern states.
  • The quote as it appears here, IN CONTEXT, is simply John being John and using topics he was familiar with in a way that he would normally speak to a buddy or a reporter.
  • Who says terrorism is only a problem for extremist Islamists?
  • I only stated that “they” have a greater effect on children and other things than anything else, even Christ.
  • So, what are your thoughts about that?” John: I’d want to thank you for your time “In any case, I first brought this to your attention in the context of England.
  • I wasn’t dismissive of it or dismissive of its importance.
  • I’m not implying that we’re better or more significant than anyone else, or that we should be compared to Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing or anything.
  • Alternatively, it was misinterpreted.
  • John (under the impression that he had just apologized, which he had, in fact, done): “I wasn’t saying anything like what they’re claiming I was saying.
  • I never intended that to be a sneeringly anti-religious remark.

I’m still not sure what I’ve done, and I’ve attempted to explain what I did, but if you want me to apologize, and if doing so would make you happy, then that’s OK with me; I’m truly sorry.” John’s explanation of the term “REAL PLAYER AUIDIO” Threats Against the Beatles’ Radio Tour

The original article:

by Maureen Cleave London Evening Standard, March 4 1966It was this time three years ago that The Beatles first grew famous. Ever since then, observers have anxiously tried to gauge whether their fame was on the wax or on the wane; they foretold the fall of the old Beatles, they searched diligently for the new Beatles (which was as pointless as looking for the new Big Ben).At last they have given up; The Beatles’ fame is beyond question. It has nothing to do with whether they are rude or polite, married or unmarried, 25 or 45; whether they appear on Top of the Pops or do not appear on Top of the Pops.

  1. They are famous in the way the Queen is famous.
  2. They all tick over in the public esteem-she in Buckingham Palace, they in the Weybridge-Esher area.
  3. They have not worked since Christmas and their existence is secluded and curiously timeless.
  4. The fans are still at the gates but The Beatles see only each other.
  5. Outdoors is for holidays.They watch films, they play rowdy games of Buccaneer; they watch television till it goes off, often playing records at the same time.
  6. Bedtimes and mealtimes have no meaning as such.
  7. He still peers down his nose, arrogant as an eagle, although contact lenses have righted the short sight that originally caused the _expression.

He is still easy-going, still tough as hell.

(Fred is his father; he emerged after they got famous.) ‘He was here a few weeks ago.

George has put him on to this Indian music.

‘It’s amazing this-so cool’ Don’t the Indians appear cool to you?

This music is thousands of years old; it makes me laugh, the British going over there and telling them what to do.

‘Christianity will go,’ he said.

I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right.

Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary.

He is far too lazy to keep up appearances, even if he had worked out what the appearances should be-which he has not.He is now 25.

There is a cat called after his aunt Mimi, and a purple dining room.

‘Seems the only place for him in his position,’ said his father, surveying him dispassionately.

I couldn’t stand ugly people even when I was five.

John swept past the objects in which he had lost interest: ‘That’s Sidney’ (a suit of armour); ‘That’s a hobby I had for a week’ (a room full of model racing cars); ‘Cyn won’t let me get rid of that'(a fruit machine).

They wink for a year; one imagines him sitting there till next Christmas, surrounded by the little winking boxes.He paused over objects he still fancies; a huge altar crucifix of a Roman Catholic nature with IHS on it; a pair of crutches, a present from George; an enormous Bible he bought in Chester; his gorilla suit.’I thought I might need a gorilla suit,’ he said; he seemed sad about it.

  • I thought I might pop it on in the summer and drive round in the Ferrari.
  • I’ve been thinking about it and if I didn’t wear the head it would make an amazing fur coat-with legs, you see.
  • The moment he approaches a switch it fuses; six of the winking boxes, guaranteed to last till next Christmas, have gone funny already.
  • Then there’s the swimming pool, the trees sloping away beneath it.
  • He wanted the bottom to be a mirror.
  • ‘None of my gadgets really work except the gorilla suit-that’s the only suit that fits me.’He is very keen on books, will always ask what is good to read.
  • He has Swift, Tennyson, Huxley, Orwell, costly leather-bound editions of Tolstoy, Oscar Wilde.
  • Buckland.
  • ‘I’ve read millions of books,’ he said, ‘that’s why I seem to know things.’ He is obsessed by Celts.
  • ‘I am on Boadicea’s side-all those bloody blue-eyed blondes chopping people up.
  • The books don’t give you more than a paragraph about how they lived; I have to imagine that.’He can sleep almost indefinitely, is probably the laziest person in England.

‘I don’t mind writing or reading or watching or speaking, but sex is the only physical thing I can be bothered with any more.’ Occasionally he is driven to London in the Rolls by an ex-Welsh guardsman called Anthony; Anthony has a moustache that intrigues him.The day I visited him he had been invited to lunch in London, about which he was rather excited.

‘I’ve never been to lunch before.

The waiters kept looking and saying: “No, it isn’t him, it can’t be him”.’He settled himself into the car and demonstrated the television, the folding bed, the refrigerator, the writing desk, the telephone.

‘I only once got through to a person,’ he said, ‘and they were out.’Anthony had spent the weekend in Wales.

They discussed the possibility of an extension for the telephone.

‘Don’t want to be like Dorothy Dandridge,’ he said, ‘dying of a splinter 50 years later.’ He added reassuringly that he had washed the foot in question.We bowled along in a costly fashion through the countryside.

‘They keep telling me I’m all right for money but then I think I may have spent it all by the time I’m 40 so I keep going.

The only other way of getting it is to be born rich.

I often think that it’s all a big conspiracy, that the winners are the Government and people like us who’ve got the money.

It often comes into my mind that I’m not really rich.

‘Everybody thinks they would have been famous if only they’d had the Latin and that.

You remember your old grannie saying soft things like: “You’ll make it with that voice.”‘ Not, he added, that he had any old grannies.He got to the doctor 2 3/4 hours early and to lunch on time but in the wrong place.

He wondered what else he should buy.

‘Any presents?’ he asked eagerly; he observed that there was nothing like getting things free.

He brightened.

‘We only let them out one at a time,’ said the attractive Miss Hanson firmly.He said that to live and have a laugh were the things to do; but was that enough for the restless spirit?’Weybridge,’ he said, ‘won’t do at all.

Bankers and stockbrokers live there; they can add figures and Weybridge is what they live in and they think it’s the end, they really do.

I’ll take my time; I’ll get my real house when I know what I want.’You see, there’s something else I’m going to do, something I must do-only I don’t know what it is.

All I know is, this isn’t it for me.’Anthony got him and the compendium into the car and drove him home with the television flickering in the soothing darkness while the Londoners outside rushed home from work.Copyright � 1966 Maureen CleaveA Cute Ending – and true!

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