In 1966, John Lennon’s controversial speech about the band led to the Liverpool quartet being banned from South Africa; understand!
You Beatles They experienced a success that, to this day, few artists have managed to achieve. A global phenomenon, the Liverpool quartet accumulated fans in all corners of the world, with their rock rhythm wrapped in great psychedelia.
The band’s stardom in the 60s was due to the brief time in which the band lasted: they got together in 1960, and ended their partnership in 1970. However, in those 10 years, they captivated and irritated many people.
+ The person truly responsible for the end of the Beatles, according to Paul McCartney;
Such was his fame that in 1966 John Lennon In an interview with the British newspaper The Evening Standard, he made a speech that would cause international shock. At the time, the artist said that the band could even be more popular than Christianity.
Christianity will disappear,” he said in the interview. “I don’t need to argue about it; I am right and I will be proven right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which goes first: rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity.”
He further added, according to the Daily Express: “Jesus was fine, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” And this speech would end up causing a controversy that the Beatle certainly did not imagine.
+ Ringo Starr has already refused the Catholic Church’s forgiveness for the Beatles;
Banned
A few months after this controversial speech by John Lennonthe government of South Africa and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) banned the reproduction of all Beatles songs in the country.
At the time, it is worth mentioning, the quartet had successful singles in the Top 20 of the most listened to songs in the country for three consecutive years, including classics such as ‘From Me To You’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, ‘ Ticket to Ride’ and ‘Help’.
Then, with the band’s separation in 1970, the quartet’s songs were played again on South African radio, as well as the songs of each of its members individually — which saved the day. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr It is George Harrison —, except for John Lennon.
Lennon’s responses
Despite the intense reaction against Lennon, the singer later commented that many fans in his own country did not attach much importance to his comments. “In England, nobody paid attention,” he said in another interview in 1974.
“If I had said: ‘Television is more popular than Jesus’, I could have gotten away with it!”, said the former Beatle on another occasion, as reported by the Daily Express.
However, over time, Lennon He also apologized to those he offended with his controversial statement: “I regret opening my mouth. I am not anti-God, anti-Christ or anti-religion”, he later pointed out. “If you want me to apologize, if it will make you happy, then fine, I’m sorry.”
