Tuesday 11 August 2015

BEATLES´ DOCUMENTARIAN RESEARCHERS ALA. PROTEST



In 1966 John Lennon said that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus.” This was an observation of secularization to some, but to others, this was sacrilege.

It happened in early August of 1966, John had been interviewed months before in England when the topic turned to religion. He said he felt his group was more popular than Jesus, or was it Christianity? He said later he meant Christianity or was it organized religion? It got somewhat muddled after a while.



English audiences didn’t seem overly upset, but when John’s remark finally hit American soil, especially Dixie’s version of Birmingham, it “went viral,” a term often used today by 24/7 news operations.

Doug and Tommy knew they had a tiger by the tail and played it for all it was worth as they urged listeners to bring their Beatles albums to the studio where a warm reception awaited them in the form of a big bonfire.
They said they just wanted to show John and the Beatles they were angry over his comments in a country with a deep religious fervor, especially in the South.



The Associated Press appeared to be asleep at the switch and didn’t come up with its own version of the boycott right away, providing UPI and its stumbling, bumbling kid reporter with a major exclusive.

What seemed at first to be a routine story about a musician’s from-the-hip comment and a Southern radio station’s angry response exploded worldwide.It appeared there were no bonfires in Birmingham, but some small ones were reported at other locations around the South.
Producer David Long at the age of 58, may not be part of the generation that grew up with the Beatles, but his love of the group and their contributions to the music scene will be preserved in a documentary that, as of now, apparently will be called something like “Bigger Then Jesus.”

The producer of several World Trade Center documentaries, including “The Man Who Predicted 9-11,” Dave has spent this summer working on his Beatles project.

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