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‘Big Butter’ song adds verse after fire

Destruction of huge ‘King of Kings’ sculpture prompts comedian to revise his novelty tune.

Scores of people visited Solid Rock Church on Tuesday, June 15, to see the remnants of the Jesus statue that was destroyed by fire Monday night in Monroe.

Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli Scores of people visited Solid Rock Church on Tuesday, June 15, to see the remnants of the Jesus statue that was destroyed by fire Monday night in Monroe.

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 7:38 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2010

MONROE — The “King of Kings” statue lives on in a novelty song that compares the statue to a state fair butter sculpture and websites with modified photos that depict the 62-foot-tall image of Jesus Christ with arms raised tossing a beach ball.

The statue that has stood since 2004 at the Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 was struck by lightning Monday night, June 14, and burned to the ground.

“It’s ironic,” said comedian Heywood Banks, who received 150 e-mails and 30 text messages about the lightning strike.

“Maybe I’m not the only one who didn’t like it,” he said.

Banks wrote the song “Big Butter Jesus” about the statue. He penned a new verse Tuesday that now dubs it “Flaming Shot Jesus” and “Extra Crispy Jesus.”

The song ridicules the statue, not its subject, Banks said. “I am not making fun of Jesus, I am defending Jesus from this kind of thing,” he said.

The new version will premiere today, June 16, on “The Bob and Tom Show,” a syndicated radio morning program heard in 156 markets, including Dayton’s WTUE-FM (104.7).

The radio show was “absolutely inundated” with e-mails about the fire, said co-host Tom Griswold. Most of the letters had a humorous tone, he said.

“I think it was perceived as being kind of a cheesy tribute to Jesus, with its proximity to the freeway,” Griswold said.

The statue was “a must-see attraction in the Cincinnati area,” said Doug Kirby, publisher of RoadsideAmerica.com, a travel website about offbeat tourist attractions. Its large size made it popular for group photos.

“We haven’t had this much excitement about something like this since the giant alligator jaws in Gator Land caught on fire,” Kirby said.

Websites such as www.jeeeb.us feature digitally modified photos of the statue, such as one of it raising a boom box above its head like John Cusack in the film “Say Anything.”

“I think that people looked at that statue with a little less reverence than, say, Michelangelo’s ... ‘La Pieta,’ ” Griswold said.

Staff Writer Eric Robinette contributed to this report.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.