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.
Last updated: 25 May 2009
Also on this day...
- 2019: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Berglund Center, Roanoke
- 2016: Paul McCartney live: Busch Stadium, St Louis
- 2008: The Beatles’ contract with Brian Epstein to be auctioned
- 2008: John Lennon’s killer denied parole for fifth time
- 2003: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
- 2001: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
- 1998: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Theaterplatz, Chemnitz
- 1995: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Starplex Amphitheatre, Dallas
- 1992: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Desert Sky Pavilion, Phoenix
- 1989: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh
- 1973: Recording: Mind Games by John Lennon
- 1969: Mixing: You Never Give Me Your Money
- 1968: Recording, editing: Sexy Sadie, Yer Blues
- 1966: The Beatles live: Olympia Stadium, Detroit
- 1965: Travel: London to New York
- 1965: US album release: Help!
- 1963: The Beatles live: Odeon Cinema, Llandudno
- 1962: The Beatles live: Majestic Ballroom, Crewe
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Casbah Coffee Club, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
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?
1280 was the the frequency for KLUE.
Weird that Lennon died in 12/80
The KLUE station manager did not say, “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.” Why? Friday was August 12th. From my research, the burning took place on the 12th rather than the 13th, so the Friday part is correct.
“During the ritual, the Grand Dragon of the South Carolina Ku Klux Klan burnt a Beatles record on a large wooden cross.” – This reporting seems to come from a source where these two events were clumsily listed next to each other giving the impression that they happened at the same event. I do not believe that is the case because I have not read any eyewitness accounts affirming this. In addition, Why would the SC Grand Dragon be in Alabama when there were burnings there?
I was there in Texas and in fact lived at the townhouses across the highway from Estes Parkway. I was 13 and use to play there alot and hang at KLUE 1280.
FACT: There was no SC Grand Wizard KKK krap. Did not happen.
FACT: When i sorted through the ashes the next day … hardly any of many thousands of albums or 45s that were burned were ‘NOT’ the Beatles. You could tell from the leftover center areas that didn’t burn; that most were old and unwanted music like Liberace or Paul Anka or Conway Twitty.
FACT: It is Christian to turn the other cheek … So they should have sang …
. . . He loves you; . . . Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeaaaahhhhhh!
I lived in Longview at the time, and I could have sworn that KLUE was on the FM dial. I just checked Wikipedia, which confirmed the FM license in March 1963, at 105.7 FM.
I was delighted beyond words that God offered his response to not just the bonfire, but the non-stop yapping coming from those morons. They really wouldn’t shut up about all this before the lightning struck. I’m remembering that the station was only if the air for a day, but I could be wrong about that…..