Beatles Asked Not To Appear

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 17

Beatles Asked Not To Appear

(N Z Press Association — Copyright) MEMPHIS (Tennessee), August 10. The City Commission, upset by antiChristian remarks attributed to one of the Beatles, asked the British singers last night not to make a scheduled appearance in Memphis on August 19.

! “The Beatles are not welcome in Memphis,” the comamission said in a resolution adopting unanimously the protest of 18-year-old John F. McCormack. “Their appearance will not. be in the best interest of alii the people of the city of Mem-] phis,” the resolution said. Mr McCormack told the com-] missioners the question was not whether John Lennon was right or wrong in his re-i marks about Christianity, “but I whether be has the right to] say it.” “These men have stated! their beliefs, and they are not coming here to preach, but

to sing.” he said. Lennon was quoted as saying: “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that . I’m right We’re more popular than Jesus now. 1 don’t know | which will go first rock and roll or Christianity.” I The Mayor, Mr William Ing- ! ram. answered Mr McCormack by saying: “This action does not restrict anyone's opinion. But *we of the commission feel it is our duty to protect Memphians against the Beatles' ' use of the public coliseum to ridicule anyone’s religI iODj”