Correct. The reaction to that comment was an early example of "outrage mob" hysteria. They were burning Beatles records for weeks. If I recall correctly, John did not bend a knee to it. But I could be wrong.
Anyway, these dumb kids. Those vintage Beatles albums would have been worth big money today.
In the summer of 1966, Ron Nasty was widely quoted by saying that the Rutles were bigger than God. He went on to say that God had never gotten a hit record.
In response to this, many fans burnt their albums, many more burnt their fingers trying to burn their albums. Album sales skyrocketed, as people began to buy the albums, simply to burn them.
It would later turn out that it was all a great misunderstanding. Nasty, whilst talking to a slightly deaf journalist, stated that the Rutles were bigger than Rod Stewart, who would not be big for another eight years.
Meet the Beatles goes for $50 in teenager used condition.
Mint going for $1200 but it’s going to sit for a while before selling at that price.
(I’ve got a stack of them in the basement)
Burning those plastic LPs was not the most efficient way to dispose of the records, (lots of thick black smoke) but I understand they were making a public statement of rejection. Taking boxes full of discs to the City Dump wouldn’t have the same impact.