August 3, 1966 - South Africa Bans the Beatles

John Lennon’s comments get Beatle records banned in South Africa. Sometimes artists joined governments and human rights organizations in pressuring the South African government to end its apartheid system which legally denied basic rights to blacks. But on August 3, 1966, South Africa decided the Beatles had gone too far. First, the popular British rock and roll band had revealed that it would not tour South Africa until the country lifted apartheid. Then, referring to his band, singer John Lennon told the British Evening Standard, “We’re more popular than Jesus.” Offended government officials banned Beatles records in South Africa for five years. Apartheid, on the other hand, survived another three decades.

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