Beatles Ask 'High Priest' For a Few Words of Grace (Memphis 1966)

 Beatles Ask 'High Priest' For a Few Words of Grace

By William Norton

The Commercial Appeal

August 20, 1966

    "Say the blessing, John," said a member of the Beatles' entourage. John Lennon bowed his head and muttered something about Memphis, Tennessee. Those sitting closest to him laughed. The Beatles and members of their entourage were eating in a locker room at the Mid South Coliseum between their two performances here yesterday.

    Neither the Beatles nor other members of their party realized that the waiter pouring coffee was not a waiter at all. I had slipped on a white coat and slipped in with the regular crew from Monty's Drive-In, which was catering the affair. The call for the blessing was one of the few references to the controversy caused by Mr. Lennon's statement recently that the Beatles are more popular than Christ. Most of the conversation centered around music, mostly their own. 

    There was even a reference to Memphis's own Elvis Presley. "He's in the middle of it all," said George Harrison, in a thick British accent; his comments implied that Elvis was sitting back, enjoying the current boom in rock and roll. 

    Mr. Lennon, the most talkative member of the British quartet, seemed quite relieved to have just finished a press conference. "Some people just have to have an explanation," he said, obviously referring again to the religious controversy. The Beatles' lack of appetite indicated that they are not completely immune to the pre-performance jitters experienced by almost every entertainer. John Lennon drank cups of half coffee and half milk. Paul McCartney ate a baked potato, and Ringo Starr had only a few bites of salad before leaving the room.

     George Harrison and most other members of the party ate heartily of a meal consisting of roast beef, baked potato salad with choice of dressing, and custard pie. When he finished his meal, Harrison propped his elbows upon the table, began picking his teeth, and listened to the conversation. The foursome were dressed in sports coats, slacks, and casual shoes. Lennon sported a pair of yellow-tinted steel-rimmed glasses.

     Most of the musical conversation centered around the Beatles' own compositions. "I think some of the old ones will be around for a long time," said Brian Epstein, manager of the group. "For instance, I think 'I Want to Hold Your Hand ' will always be around. 

    Mr. Lennon made a comment about recordings of Beatles compositions made by pop orchestra groups. "They like it the way they do it," he said. "But when it comes to the way we do it..." 

    As the Colosseum began to fill again, the Beatles and members of their party left the room to prepare for another performance.