On March 4th in music history, one significant event took place in 1966 when John Lennon made a controversial statement that would follow him for the rest of his life. In an interview with the London Evening Standard, Lennon was quoted as saying, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and I'll be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity."
This statement caused an uproar, particularly in the United States, where conservative groups and religious organizations called for boycotts of Beatles records and merchandise. Radio stations banned Beatles songs, and public bonfires were held to destroy their albums. The controversy escalated to the point where the Beatles received death threats, and the Ku Klux Klan picketed their concerts.
Lennon later apologized for his statement, clarifying that he was not comparing the Beatles to Jesus in terms of importance but rather commenting on the decline of Christianity in the United Kingdom. Despite the apology, the damage had been done, and the "more popular than Jesus" comment would be associated with Lennon and the Beatles for years to come.
Interestingly, this controversy did not seem to have a long-term impact on the Beatles' popularity. They continued to release groundbreaking albums and maintain their status as one of the most influential and successful bands in history. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the power of words and the impact they can have, especially when coming from a public figure as prominent as John Lennon.
