Video: 'John Lennon, The Beatles, and Jesus?' (Lennon video shot Aug. 12, 1966)

(Saturday, July 30, 1966) — Two Birmingham disc jockeys said today they plan to organize a public “Beatle burning” after expressing outrage over reported remarks attributed to singer-songwriter-musician John Lennon of The Beatles regarding Christianity.

Tommy Charles and Doug Layton, of radio station WAQY, said they have invited listeners to send Beatles records, photographs, and related items to be destroyed in a bonfire to be held within the next two weeks.

The action, they said, was prompted by an interview published yesterday, July 29, 1966, in Datebook, a teenage magazine, in which Lennon was quoted as saying the Beatles were “more popular than Jesus Christ” and that Christianity was “on its way out.”

Charles said the comments, which were printed on March 4, 1966, in a London publication, prompted immediate concern.

“We objected to two highly inflammatory statements by them,” Charles said. “I called the publisher to confirm.”

He said he conducted an informal telephone poll of listeners and claimed that “99 per cent were willing to go along with the ban on The Beatles.”

WAQY has stopped playing Beatles records, Charles said, adding, “It’s a shame because they’re talented boys. They are as good or better than any group today, but we think it’s time somebody stood up to them and told them to shut up.”

Charles said he hoped the planned demonstration would have an effect on the group’s popularity and record sales.

“To them, nothing is sacred,” he said. “They have a complete lack of breeding. A clod will show his colors when given a chance.”

https://www.newspapers.com/article/alabama-journal/199516958/

Article from Jul 30, 1966 Alabama Journal (Montgomery, Alabama)