I just heard some sad (happy for him) news. Larry Norman is dead. He died this morning at 2:45 a.m. If you haven't heard of Larry, you should know that he's literally the guy who started Christian rock and roll.
The original Jesus Freak. He didn't do the peace sign, but as a leader of the Jesus Movement, pointed the index finger toward Heaven, signifying "One Way." He helped lead a movement.
A legend. With Jesus. The Jesus Freak met Jesus face to fact this morning. Would've been fun to see.
Some memories...
- In high school I rocked out to Geoff Moore's remake of his "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?"
- In college I hosted a "Thief In the Night" party. We all sat in the Wilkie basement with Kevin on the guitar and sang, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready," a song he helped make famous.
- We saw DC Talk sing the song a few months later...and saw the video where they reverently met him.
- I was sitting at a concert during GMA Week in Nashville in '95 and a man behind me asks if I'd watch his jacket while he stepped out to take some medicine. It was Larry. I was in shock. We talked all through the show...Rebecca St. James debuted "God" that night.
- That night he was asking a mutual friend about taking a cab to the Dove Awards. I asked if he needed a ride. He did. I took him. How cool?
- We talked for the 30 minute drive to the Grand Ol' Opry. Got McDonald's. We got there and we went to the security desk to get back stage. I had press credentials...he didn't. They weren't going to let him through. I told the security guard, "This guy started this industry...you can ask anyone here." She leaned in and asked if I was serious. They let him through.
- Back stage he introduced me to the hordes that were walking up for hugs and hellos. "Have you met my good friend Matt?" he often asked. Seriously. It was amazing. Among the those that night, guys ranginf from Toby Mac to Andre Crouch.
- A few months later he played at my church. He played the Dave Weston piano. Incredible night.
- He called a few times after the show. I had a message on my answering maching, "Hello, Matt, this is Larry Norman."
- His CDs cell for a lot on ebay. I have sold none, but bought a few.
Forgive my name dropping...but that was one cool guy and I was freaked out I got to know him if even for a bit.
He loved his fans...never sold out. Was a little quirky (understatement). Had some extreme opinions. Loved Jesus.
Rest in peace my righteous rocking friend.
Comments (8)
Sad news. I was thinking of that Larry Norman concert recently. I found the Remixing This Planet CD at a used CD store and bought it (to sell on eBay no less). That was a fun evening at P.C. (If you recall, I got to run sound!). He gave me one of his old LP's and autographed it. Upon This Rock or So Long Ago The Garden. I can't remember, I bought one on eBay and he gave me the other one. Too bad he didn't let us keep the recording from that night, I would like to hear it again.
@Shreckman - What a great concert that was...and I was thinking last night about the bummer of not getting that recording! Cool about the old LP. Great to hear from you!
Matt
larry Norman abandoned his son Daniel and Daniels mother Jennifer. Daniel is now 18 and lives in Melbourne Australia for the full story see
http://jennifermccallum.blogspot.com
Also World Magazine will be publishing an article on July 6th
www.worldmag.com
Thanks Andrew, Australia
World magazine have now published thier article see
www.worldmag.com.articles/14180
also Daniels story is on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/user/jenksaustralia
Thanks Andrew
Have you been subjected to the same pressures and temptations, have you been heartbroken by your marriage ending causing such unimaginable pain and sorrow that you become vulnerable to the weakness of the flesh. Have you cried out to God for forgiveness and restoration, and knowing he has forgiven you, you realize others won't.....
Larry Norman was human after all.
As human as Solomon who in his weakness gave in to foreign women that ultimately brought his demise, but do we throw away the Song of Solomon or Proverbs, no, because God's calling and gifts are without repentance. Larry's sin is not unique to human frailty, but I don't blame Larry alone for his innability to come to grips with the consequences of his sin, but it is to be laid at the doorstep of the church, that even though God is forgiving and merciful, his church isn't as evidenced by the pulling of Sandi Patti's albums from shelves and the boycotting of Amy Grant's albums, and the churches response to countless others who have fallen, yes the church has its own list of unpardonable sins, thus the church forces Christian artists or ministers who want to continue with a carreer or ministry to put up a wall of pretense and silence, and church becomes the place where masks are worn and where everyone has to pretend to be perfect. In today's church Peter never could have continued with a ministry feeding God's sheep. So many fallen soldiers are trampled by selfrighteous pharisees, instead of giving a true hand of forgiveness, assistance and restoration!
The following is a youtube link to the new documentary of Larrys life "Fallen Angel: The Outlaw Larry Norman"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Vc5G1gXTA
The next screening is in San Jose California in Late Feb 2009 at the Cinequest Film Festival
Andrew
If you love Jesus it should only be a momentary temptation to seek out another believers alleged shame. Larry would have freely admitted he was not worth anything except for Jesus forgiveness. Hopefully we will find that he truly loved Christ (Im sure he did) and there will be another testimony that even we cannot rip ourselves out of Gods hand once bought.
PRODUCTION:
A far less than amateur production – the sound was so poorly mastered and "all over the map" level wise, I found myself riding the volume control just to get some hearing comfort. Almost impossibly - the video quality was even worse! The entire production was simply a poorly assembled and redundant photo slide show of a truly horrible standard and erroneously edited with pre-teen level camera work.
VERY amateurish and boring, the worst part for me was the seething hatred and accusatory tone apparent in the voice of the narrator, and that conversations were obviously clipped, diced, and manipulated to put the protagonist in the WORST possible light. Seemingly made on a production budget of $13.59 this video fails miserably!
DOCUMENTATION:
Even more derailed than the production: This "movie" confirms the grim reality of the much reported bias the filmmaker has against Larry Norman - having spent less than 2 minutes of the entire film on Larry's REAL attributes seen by thousands over decades of integrity, character, generosity & humor, and the rest of the time impugning him for all sorts of horrible things that were easily and correctly dismissed as hearsay and rumor while Larry was alive...
Objectivity was a million miles away from this hack flick, and was only barely hinted at when truly objective statements were sparingly sprinkled in the last few moments of the film.
It is clearly a case of slander per se, which explains it’s posthumous release… and don’t tell me this “took years to complete” – the whole project could easily have been done in one week.
CONCLUSION:
If anyone can watch this slanderous tripe without feeling cheapened or deceived, I seriously question THEIR integrity! Almost anyone could have made a better film than this personal vendetta… wait for a real moviemaker to tell this story of the centric character in Jesus Music – it deserves to be told.
RIP Larry Norman.