This Week in Christian History: GK Chesterton, a Jesuit Death, Beatles Controversy

John Lennon Gets Backlash Over 'More Popular Than Jesus' Remark - July 31, 1966

This week marks the anniversary of the backlash that hit the famous British rock band the Beatles due to comments singer John Lennon made regarding his band being "more popular than Jesus."

Lennon's comments about their band being more beloved than Jesus Christ originally appeared in March of 1966 in a story published by the London Evening Standard, reportedly garnering little outrage in Europe.

However, when Lennon's remarks made it to American media that July, a radio station in Alabama banned the Beatles' music and called on Americans to destroy the band's memorabilia.

"Hundreds of Beatles records are to be pulverized in a giant municipal tree-grinding machine here because of what Beatle John Lennon said about Christ," reported one Birmingham paper.

"A box full of the dust will be presented to the British pop stars when they arrive in Memphis, Tennessee, not far from here, for a concert August 19, said local disc jockey Rex Roach."

The overall public outrage became intense enough that at an August press conference Lennon offered an apology, of sorts.

"I was pointing out ... that we meant more to kids than Jesus did, or religion, at that time. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down, I was just saying it as a fact," said Lennon.

"I'm not saying that we're better, or greater, or comparing us with Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing or whatever it is ... If you want me to apologise, if that will make you happy, then OK, I'm sorry."