In the middle of the summer in 1984, Herbert Armstrong flipped his lid about music at SEP. Jowels were probably flapping fast and furiously. You could probably hear him yelling down the 3rd floor and in the elevator. It probably wasn't a good time in Headquarters!
It seems that he was very upset about the choices of music that were at SEP back in the 80s. Apparently, somebody told him that they were going behind his back playing "Unacceptable Music." Which led to an immediate press release from Armstrong himself. That was to be read to EVERYONE.
In short, he had a tantrum.
I wonder exactly what music was playing that he got so offended about!
Madonna's "Like a Virgin" didn't come out until October in 1984. So that wouldn't have done it.
One of the biggest hits of 1983 was Toto's "Africa". Nothing offensive about that one!
Of course, Micheal Jackson's Billy Jean was a huge hit clear up through 1984. This could have done it.
For a variety of reasons!
Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" came out in late 1983 as well.
There weren't other songs that were especially scandalous in the Mainstream in 1984. To most of the world.
But in Armstrong-Land, anything except classical music, musicals, Young Ambassadors, and Dwight Armstrong - and a few easy-listening stars and muzak type songs were scandalous. And somehow, the other music "Damaged" the kids.
Herbert probably thought that the beat of the music would arouse all of the SEP'ers into wild parties of forbidden fornication. He always said fast beats were too "sexual". Of course, though things did happen at SEP, most of the campers just enjoyed music that was a little different than "Praise Ye The Lordo" or "Oklahoma" or "Singin' In The Rain".
Well, you might ask - what happened? We don't know. But this happened just a day later.
Guess what folks?
No clarification was ever issued. And nobody knew this ever happened, because it was never read.
Could Herbert Armstrong have become enraged at the rumor mill?
Did someone give Herbert misinformation?
What REALLY went down at SEP camp - or Headquarters - that summer? We may never know. If someone here knows, it would be interesting to know the backstory on this.
But what this was is an example of the many rumors, conspiracies, and incidents that happened frequently at Headquarters as detailed in the Ambassador Reports, and from first hand reports of life in Pasadena. This one just happened to make it to the Pastor General Report. It never made it to the general membership - this kerfuffle about the music at SEP that get Kermit Nelson appointed as the Camp Director, where he remained for many years later. Wes White, a contributor here at Banned, has detailed other controversial incidents that have happened at Headquarters as well. The atmosphere at Headquarters was often not what we thought it was, out in "the field".
