Comments on: Larry Norman Tribute

By: Tim Tobin

Tim Tobin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:53:20 +0000

I want the people to know, that he gave me hope! Only saw “Stormin’ Norman” in concert once. That was enough. Only heard Francis Schaeffer once. Same. Larry’s art & humor is very much alive in my memory. There was only one Larry Norman; the world wasn’t Big enough for two. - Selah. Schaeffer once said: “Larry Norman was one of the most misunderstood Christian artists.” -OR- words to that effect…. Norman’s impact & brilliance was all part of God’s design for his servant. Larry always said: “This world is not my home; I’m just passin’ through….” May that be said of us. Amen.

By: Franco

Franco — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:11:51 +0000

Larry was an inspiration to me. His music helped lead me to the Lord.
My favorite song of his was One Way.
This world need more Larry Normans to help lead others to the Truth.
I thank the Lord for you my brother Larry.

By: Mark Bridgman

Mark Bridgman — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:17:54 +0000

I saw Larry a number of times at Dallas Brooks Hall in Melbourne (Australia)in the early 80’s. At that time there were regular international Christian artists making the journey ‘down under’, but Larry was without question my absolute favorite. The great music, the strength and depth of his lyrics and his on-stage showmanship were brilliant. I bought his albums and learned to play some of his songs on my guitar.
Strangely, I’m in China on business right now and I bought a new guitar here to ‘be my friend’ while I’m away. As usual I have been picking over some of the old Larry tunes, which really have become a part of my life. A couple of days ago, my wife back in Australia, told me a that Larry had died (it was on the radio). It was certainly sad news, and my heart goes out to his family and close friends.
I’ve never fully understood why he was so misunderstood by so many. He gave so much, was a visionary, but suffered in other ways for many years. Larry’s music and message will live on - and maybe after his passing, will be ‘discovered’ by a new generation. Wouldnt a Larry dedication album of Larry songs done by the Newsboys hit the spot with a later generation? Just a thought….

Larry may have left us, but for many of us what he really left us will never go away. Thanks Larry.

By: Dennis Laing

Dennis Laing — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:48:58 +0000

If anyone is interested I have written about the memorial service at my website http://www.mayberrychurch.com

By: Mark Wulf

Mark Wulf — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:34:27 +0000

Around 1975, I was introduced by my cousin to an
8 track tape of Larry Norman-upon this rock.
A year later, I purchased the lp, and in 1978,
being 15 years old, my dad took me to see him twice
in central pennsylvania.
His performances were truly refreshing to me, also
with Petra opening up until he arrived. They were
so loud it killed my ears, but when Larry came on,
it was awesome, and it was truly entertaining.
In 2001, after 20 years, he came to Lancaster for
2 concerts and the last one was even better than
all the rest.
It is hard to believe and realize he is gone.
He will be missed and it’s hard to listen to any
music right now.

By: Steven Tomlinson

Steven Tomlinson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:19:58 +0000

Back in the early 70’s I was exposed to Larry’s music for the first time as a young Christian teen and it was like a revolution. For the first time “my” style of music was available in a Christian context. I remember my mother coming into my room ready to tell me to turn that rock music off and I handed her the album jacket to read the lyrics and, after she got over Larry’s long hair, she was impressed and gave her blessing.

Several years later Larry wrote a song that gripped my heart and was one of the tools the Lord used to bring me into ministry. The song was “I am a servant”

When I received the news that Larry went home to be with the Lord my mind went rushing back to my early calling to be a pastor, my loneliness and the welcoming arms of Jesus to receive a sinner and have a place for him in his kingdom. Larry was a part of that calling.

My choice to follow the way of the cross is really the unfolding of God’s first choice to provide a way of salvation and to draw me irresistibly to it. This weekend was a reminder of one of the ways God took charge in my heart and gave me the greatest privilege life can off – to be His servant.

By: Rick Conklin

Rick Conklin — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:03:20 +0000

It is important to keep in mind that Christian Rock became a record filing category AFTER Lary Norman, not before. When Larry Norman began shakin’ things up there were but a handful of Christian rock artists, fewer still of note. I had the priviledge of seeing Larry Norman at a very early concert appearance at the Hollywood Palladium (circa 1970), his powerful and provocative message and music (in that order) had a profound effect on me. I was already a Christian, playing secular rock ‘n roll, and had begun to consider combining those attributes. Larry’s example was a significant catalyst in my deciding to surrender those talents to the service of the one who had given them to me. I spent 7 years full-time as a Christian musician, singing and sharing the gospel to thousands of people, it was an amazing life changing & affirming experience.

I finally met Larry in 1976 when our band (Aslan) opened for him at a concert in Tempe Arizona… it isn’t everyone that gets to meet their real-life heros, I wish I had more time with him. He was truly a pioneer and he paved such a very broad path. So very many Christian artists were, and still remain, inspired by Larry’s work. I know how his life and art touched me and I am forever grateful for that. Thank you Larry for your courage and brilliance, your work continues to speak out. I’ll be seein’ ya & we’ll have time then.

By: wezlo

wezlo — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:15:46 +0000

I forgot about the Great American Novel - sadly, I have it only on cassette (remember those?). Thankfully, I can feed it into my computer and clean it up.

I really want to sing “Why don’t you look into Jesus” in worship on Sunday - both because it’s a message the church needs to hear, and to pay my own respects for this awesome looney for Jesus.

By: Francis Beckwith

Francis Beckwith — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:49:18 +0000

Larry Norman was my favorite Christian music artist (if you don’t include Bob Dylan, but that’s another topic for another combox). I remember the first time I heard his music. It was on a casette tape consisting of Norman bootlegs that included the songs “Right Here in America,” “The Great American Novel,” and “UFO.” I was hooked. Here’s my favorite line from the second song:

“and when i was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but i know you better now
and i don’t fall for all your tricks
and you’ve lost the one advantage of my youth.”

Apparently, Norman was invited by the Carter White House to perform at a special Gospel Music concert. He was told not to sing any political or religious tunes. He said, “I don’t known any Neil Diamond songs,” and then proceeded to sing “the Great American Novel,” which ends with these lines:

“and your money says in God we trust
but it’s against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it
you say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don’t ask me for the answer i’ve only got one
that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son”

Frank

By: j.Michael Jones

j.Michael Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:01:29 +0000

More than his music, Larry represented to me a cultural hope. Growing up in the Bible belt, where (at least in our neck of the woods) long hair was equated with homosexuality and homosexuality equated with something that made God want to throw up. Music with a beat was equated with the bowels of hell and Satan himself. Before I had read the Bible for myself we were preached to that those, previously mentioned, positions were straight from scripture.

When a friend, Bill, showed me his Larry Norman album (as a senior in high school) for the first time, I realized that Christianity was much bigger than the fundamentalist subculture of my valley. But we could not play his albums on our big turn
table “stereo” that took up half of the living room. If we had, it would have confirmed the belief of my parents that the generation of the sixties was going to hell in a hand basket.

I remember that one of my parents had a friend that owned an “Eight Track” recording machine (where they were bootlegging country and western tapes). Bill and I went over to their house, with their permission but when they were away and copied the album to an eight track tape. We had to work fast (as if we were making methamphetamines ) before the owners got home and heard the music. In our haste we recorded it in mono (using only 4 of the eight tracks and missing some of the sound) and we had large gaps between songs. But finally, we could listen to the music in the privacy of my Plymouth Duster and his lyrics rang true to our personal experiences and beliefs (like questioning the Vietnam war and materialism).

Larry set me on a course that has continued for 35 years . . . trying to dissect that which is amoral culture from Biblical truth. If I had not discovered Larry at that vulnerable time, I may have taken the same path (barring the sovereignty of God) as the 98% of my fellow-churched teens . . . leaving the faith and its Bible-belt subculture forever.