Over forty years ago, at the height of The Beatles’ powers, John Lennon claimed the band were “more popular than Jesus” and all hell (excuse the pun) broke loose. Christians everywhere decided this was the ultimate blasphemy and burned The Beatles records.
It was an overreaction by religious zealots who could see the way the world was going, with The Beatles summing up the new cult of celebrity that was about to arrive. And it did harm the way The Beatles were perceived, especially in the United States.
Lennon made the controversial remarks in an interview with the London Evening Standard. Not only did he compare The Beatles to Jesus, he also ranted about religion. But his comments were very tongue in cheek, and really should have been taken with a pinch of salt.
According to the NME, he said:
“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue with that; I’m right and I will be proved right.
“We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first – rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.”
That statement was made in 1966, but it’s taken this long for any official forgiveness to be granted. And now it sort of has, with semi-official Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano using the 40th anniversary of The White Album to expunge Lennon of his sins.
The article states that:
“[This was] showing off, bragging by a young English working-class musician who had grown up in the age of Elvis Presley and rock and roll and had enjoyed unexpected success”.
Why the newspaper, which usually covers the Pope, and stories happening in and around the Vatican, were talking about The White Album isn’t clear, but I’m glad they made these reparations. Not that Lennon would really give a crap, I’m sure. If he were alive today, I’m sure he’d have a lot of harsh words for the church and religion in general.
[Photo Source: hodgers at Flickr]