THE BEATLES MIGHT STILL BE BIGGER THAN JESUS

The fervour surrounding the Fab Four has reached near-religious proportions, argues

Nigel Farndale.

Footsteps of history: the Abbey Road crossing is so popular with tourists that it has become the first road marking to earn listed status Photo: APPLE CORPS

How curious: the zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios has become one of London's most popular attractions and, in recognition of this, has been awarded listed status, a first for a road marking. This follows the decision by the National Trust to preserve for the nation the Beatles' childhood homes. Where is all this going?

Ironically, given what John Lennon said in 1966 about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus, the band does now seems to have a quasi-religious function. Can a Beatles Day be far away? Perhaps we could use Boxing Day, as no one is really sure what today is for anyway, and it does begin with a B.

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