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Home > Beatles diary > Miscellaneous > KLUE radio in Texas organises a public Beatles bonfire

KLUE radio in Texas organises a public Beatles bonfire

8.00pm, Saturday 13 August 1966 (45 years ago)

The controversy over John Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comments had been growing since late July. A public bonfire was on this day organised by the radio station KLUE in Longview, Texas.

We are inviting local teenagers to bring in their records and other symbols of the group's popularity to be burned at a public bonfire on Friday night, August 13.
Station manager, KLUE

During the ritual, the Grand Dragon of the South Carolina Ku Klux Klan burnt a Beatles record on a large wooden cross.

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« Previous post: Live: Olympia Stadium, Detroit
Next post: KLUE radio, Texas, is struck by lightning »
Also on this day...

  • 2008: The Beatles' contract with Brian Epstein to be auctioned
  • 2008: Lennon's killer denied parole for fifth time
  • 1969: Mixing: You Never Give Me Your Money
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  • 1966: Live: Olympia Stadium, Detroit
  • 1965: Travel: London to New York
  • 1965: US LP release: Help!
  • 1963: Live: Odeon Cinema, Llandudno

Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

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Filed under: Miscellaneous

One response to “KLUE radio in Texas organises a public Beatles bonfire”

  1. Richard says:
    Friday 5 August 2011 at 11.42am

    But the day after radio station KLUE held one of the first “Beatles Bonfires” in protest of John’s “popular than Jesus” statement, the station got stuck by lightening, knocking the director unconscious, causing him to have to be hospitalized, rendering the station without power to broadcast.
    Do you think God was trying to tell them something?

    Reply to this comment

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