John Lennon made a remark that The Beatles had become “more popular than Jesus” when interviewed for the American teen magazine, Datebook, in August of 1966.  This elicited angry reactions and protests broke out across several countries.  There were anti-Beatles’ demonstrations, cancelled tours, and their music was banned on radio stations.

On this day, December 3, 1969, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice asked Lennon if he would be willing to play the role of Jesus in a stage production, Jesus Christ Superstar.  Lennon declined the position but said he would have been interested if his wife could play Mary Magdalene.