This Day in Music
On this day in music, March 4, 1966, John Lennon stated in an interview published by London’s Evening Standard newspaper that The Beatles were “more popular than Jesus Christ.” In the UK, his words didn’t raise many eyebrows but when they were published in America later that year – just prior to The Beatles’ third tour of the country – they angered Christian communities, who protested by picketing concerts and publicly burning the Fab Four’s records. Lennon later apologized for his controversial comments, saying that he had been misunderstood.
In 2019, 49-year-old Keith Flint – best known as The Prodigy’s flamboyant frontman – took his own life. Born in London, he began as a dancer with The Prodigy before becoming their lead vocalist on their third album, 1997’s The Fat Of The Land, which featured the group’s iconic hit “Firestarter.” Away from The Prodigy, he led his own punk band, Flint, and also owned a motorcycle racing team called Team Traction Control, which won four Isle of Man TT races and participated in the British Superbike Championship.
In 1974, ABBA released “Waterloo,” the title track and first single from their second album. When it won the Eurovision Song Contest, it made the Swedish group a household name, topping the charts in nine countries across the world, including the UK where it was also the quartet’s first gold single.
In 2009, Britney Spears embarked on her first concert tour in five years. Dubbed “The Circus Tour,” the artist’s 97-date itinerary began in New Orleans and proved to be an extravagant spectacle that featured the singer, dressed as a ringmaster, sharing the stage with a troupe of acrobats, magicians, dancers, and jugglers.
In 1967, The Rolling Stones topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the fourth time with “Ruby Tuesday.” Though it didn’t appear on any of the group’s UK albums – where it was released as a non-album double A-side single with the controversial “Let’s Spend The Night Together” – it was featured on the band’s US-only LP, Between The Buttons.
In 1963, The Beach Boys released “Surfin’ U.S.A,” the title track of the band’s second album. Rock‘n’roll icon Chuck Berry noticed that the tune, attributed to Brian Wilson, was remarkably similar to his 1958 hit, “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and successfully pursued the band for a publishing credit. Although it stalled at No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Surfin’ USA” spent 78 weeks on the chart and became the best-selling record of the year.
BORN ON MARCH 4
1944: Bobby Womack
1948: Shakin’ Stevens
1951: Chris Rea
1953: Emilio Estefan (Miami Sound Machine)
1955: Boon Gould (Level 42)
1963: Jason Newsted (Metallica)
1967: Evan Dando (The Lemonheads)
1968: Patsy Kensit (Eighth Wonder)
