RIP: Larry Norman, The Most Amazing Artist You've Never Heard Of

Larry Norman, the most amazing artist you've never heard of has died. I found Norman's 1976 record "Only Visiting This Planet" on vinyl when I was a kid and was amazed at Norman's creative genius-later I wrote a chapter on him in my book The Rock & Roll Rebellion.

Norman will be mentioned in obits as the Father of Christian Rock, but that's a misunderstanding of who he was. Someone once said "I'm too saved for the Sinners and the Saved don't want me around" and that best described Norman's amazing life and career.

He first cracked the pop charts in the late 60's with his band People and their smash hit "I Love You," but became disgruntled when Capitol Records wouldn't let him call his album "We Need A Whole Lot More Jesus and A Lot Less Rock & Roll" and put a painting of his Master on the cover. That led Norman to quit the band and go solo, recording for MGM Records, but they too tired of his religious imagery and Norman soon formed his own label, Solid Rock Records. The Christian world was freaked out by the blond hippie and had little use for his music and despite his association with the term "Christian Rock" he was always an outsider and always strived to make his records for everybody.

While Christian Rock is sometimes assailed as formulaic and derivative, Norman was anything but and his admirers included Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, The Pixies, Van Morrison, John Mellencamp and Sammy Davis, Jr. among others.

Martin Luther, no slouch of a songwriter himself once said "Why should the Devil have all the good tunes," and Norman took that line and wrote a memorable song "Why Should the Devil Have All The Good Music" which included these lines:

"I want the people to know that He saved my soul but I still like to listen to the radio/They say rock and roll is wrong give you one more chance/I say I feel so good I gotta get up and dance/There's nothing wrong with playing blues licks/If you gotta reason tell me to my face/Why should the Devil have all the good music"

Norman further alienated many churchgoers with his song "Why Don't You Look Into Jesus" which went: "Gonorrhea on Valentine's Day/You're still looking for the perfect lay/You think rock and roll will set you free/But honey you'll be dead before you're 33"

And only the eclectic Larry Norman could write a song about his Master Jesus, comparing him to a U.F.O. and singing this memorable line: "If there's life on other planets than I'm sure that He must know and He's been there once already and has died to save their souls"

Norman gave the world one last gift as he lay dying dictating these words shortly before his heart gave out. Who wouldn't want to go out like this?

"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home... I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone...My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside... I want to say I love you. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort...Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again Somewhere beyond the sky. I pray that you will stay with God. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."

Here is Vintage Norman:

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Comments

[michie62]

Larry Norman and his music helped me grow as a Christian. From "Ha Ha World" to "Sweet, Sweet Song of Salvation" to "I am Your Servant" and the greatest "I wish we'd all been ready". These songs were cornerstones to my faith in the 70's and 80's and now. He ended a song with the line "never borrow money needlessly." Now the warrior has gone to his eternal rest--playing guitar and jamming with a lot of people in heaven. McCartney once called Larry the greatest guitar player he knew. He was right. Rest in God's peace Larry. Your heart has been fully restored.

[wingnaprayer]

I would have to object to the statement that Larry Norman was "always an outsider" in the American Christian world. I don't think you could adequately measure the impact his songs had on three decades of youth that wanted something more than just "Sunday Chritianity". Not too mention the impact he had on decades of Christian songwriters. He drove home the reality of Jesus' power to save everyone from their sins and bring us to God -- and the fact that He is the only person in history who can. Thank God for bold artists like Larry Norman.

[Kingsfan]

I was introduced to Christian Rock music in the late 70's when I was in my early 20's. I still remember the first time I heard Larry Norman's "Only Visiting This Planet". I was amazed that there was this Christian artist whose music and lyrics were on par with some of the best mainstream rock I had ever heard. Larry could have easily "gone commercial" and cashed in on the very genre he helped create. Instead, he chose to keep his message as he wanted it rather than conform to what the big labels wanted. I was blessed to be able to meet him and see him perform a few times in the 80's and 90's. Larry was not only an amazing artist, but truly a man who sought to continually grow closer to God. He may be gone, but his incredible body of work will live on and on. If you have never heard "Planet" or "Something New Under the Son" or "Stranded in Babylon", do yourself a favor and as Larry might say "look into it".

[unitron]

I had that People 45 so long ago that I had to go slogging through the newsgroups to refresh my memory that the flip side (which apparently didn't make it to the album) was "Somebody Tell Me My Name", but, unlike almost every other flip side I've ever heard in my life, I still can't remember how it went, even now that I've seen the name again (and can see it on that yellow Capitol label in my mind's eye).

I do remember liking the A side. I must have, as my disposable income was rather limited and I only bought singles that I thought really good. Apparently it was written by the Zombies' bass player, which, had I known it at the time, would have been even further incentive.

[wordvarc]

Rocker Larry Norman seemed to disdain our suburban teenage selves when he played at our winter church camp in the late 60's. "Nothing really Changes (would Icarus join the jet set? would Satan smoke menthol cigarettes?)...unless we love the Lord;" "Happy to Be the Moon,(to reflect the Light in the Middle of the night!);" and his song about Cigarettes ("every time that she inhaled...a puff of that cigarette smoke...she'll be one step closer to the man in black and fifty cents closer to broke!") remain memorable.