An autographed magazine containing an infamous quote from John Lennon has been sold at auction in the United States.
The Beatles took their time in coming to the United States. In the early 60s no one in Britain knew how long their success would last, while the received notion that rock ‘n’ roll was an American pass-time still prevailed.
Arriving at JFK Airport in 1964, the Fab Four were met by thousands of crazed fans. The Beatles stormed the United States, with their iconic look and already hit-heavy back catalogue imprinted upon the minds of a generation.
However all that came to a shuddering halt in 1966. John Lennon had long grown tired of the band’s boy band image, and had already sanctioned the infamous ‘butcher cover’ for a collection of singles.
Speaking to Datebook magazine the singer claimed that his band was ‘bigger than Jesus’. The quote in full reads:
“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first – rock’n’roll or Christianity.”
Provoking huge controversy the quote would ultimately spark a belated apology from Lennon. However the interview would long lasting effects – Lennon’s killer Mark Chapman was infuriated by the singer’s stance.
Now a signed copy of the issue has been sold at auction for £7,711 ($12,713). Lennon signed the magazine ‘John C Lennon’ despite his actual middle name being ‘Winston’.
