Godfather of Christian Rock Dies
Posted on February 27th, 2008 by catalyst into the Christian Pop Culture categoryLarry Norman died Sunday in his home in Salem, Oregon.
Frank Black, of the Pixies, remembers Larry:
"Larry was my door into the music business and he was the most Christlike person I ever met," former Pixies singer Frank Black said Monday upon hearing of Norman's passing.
I am only vaguely aware of Larry Norman. But if Frank Black liked him, he must have been a pretty cool guy.
Larry's Wikipedia Profile is fascinating, and includes this clip on Larry's relationship with Contemporary Christian Music:
Larry Norman's relationship with the wider Christian church, and with the Contemporary Christian music industry, has been contentious for a number of years. According to Portland news/radio station KXL, Norman's early social positions caused a stir among many conservative Christians. His views against racism and poverty caused him to receive multiple death threats in the 1970s. A widespread ban on Norman's music, which is largely still in effect today, existed in Christian stores. This ban was due not only to Norman's social positions, but his preferred company as well. Said Norman in a separate interview:
"The churches weren’t going to accept me looking like a street person with long hair and faded jeans. They did not like the music I was recording. And I had no desire to preach the gospel to the converted."
When asked if his 1969 album Upon This Rock was a "Christian" album, Norman responded:
"No, it was not a Christian album for those believers who wanted everything spelled out. It was more like a street fight. I was saying [to Christians]…This album is not for you."Commenting on Christian music in 1984, Norman said: "I'm pleased with what's happening in England and Europe…but I'm not totally thrilled about the commercialisation of Christian music in America." Two years prior to the 1984 interview, he had complained that Christian music generally meant "sloppy thinking, dishonest metaphors, and bad poetry" and stated that "I've never been able to get over the shock of how bad the lyrics are."
Sounds like my kind of guy.
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February 27th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
He was, cat.
I saw Larry Norman together with 2nd Chapter of Acts and Phil Keaggy in about 1976, in downtown Portland. He performed “I Wish We’d All Been ready,” and I was totally blown away, even though it smacked of Pre-Trib, so ubiquitous in those days.
He was definitely anti-establishment and anti-IC, even back then before the emergence of the IC as we know it today, and there was absolutely no phoniness nor pride in him — nor any of the others for that matter — that night. This was before the days when Contemporary Christian musicians were
worshiped(sorry!)idolized(oops!)…I mean thought so highly of. I can still remember there were these girls in the front row who kept trying to get Larry to smile…he seemed to be burdened with the state of affairs of the modern Church of Jesus, and had a lot to say about it in between songs.All of them were completely genuine and — unlike so many CC musicians today — weren’t so much interested in performing for the crowd as in worshiping the Lord.
I made my way backstage and was able to talk to all of them, and remember being impressed by the humility and genuineness of Phil Keaggy, as well as the spirituality of Nelly Ward and Annie Herring. Especially Nelly…she was having a hard time not speaking in tongues.
But Larry Norman was nowhere to be found. I got the impression that hanging around to meet the adoring fans just wasn’t his bag.
I’m saddened at his passing
-joebib
February 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Many years ago, I received an email request for financial support of Larry Norman - if I recall correctly, it was to help Larry battle cancer as Larry had no insurance nor any residual income from his Christian music … sad - Larry was good for Christian music, but Christian music wasn’t good to Larry … seems strange for the “Godfather of Christian Rock” to die poor …
This is the kind of thing that really hits home with me about right giving - while the likes of Frank, and those like him, add campuses with jumbotrons, etc., someone like Larry dies poor …
There’s a scripture in Corinthians about the coming day of the Lord being like a fire, that will burn everything up … that which survives the fire was worth doing - that which is consumed was just folly … I’ve often wondered what the fire will consume? If the earth indeed passes away, then all that survives this age unto the next, is people … so for those who have invested so heavily in the things that moth and rust destroy - when it all goes up in flames - and there’s nothing left to look at but one another - will there be a great weeping upon realization that everything not invested in people - in souls and spirits - was an utter waste?
February 28th, 2008 at 5:55 am
maybe he didnt want to be rich? some people want to live a simple life…
i have a question, what makes music “christian music”, a christian person singing it, christian lyrics? music that brings people to christ?
February 28th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Sammy, I can still remember the first time that same impression became real to me.
It was some years back on a Sunday morning, and we had just walked into the grand lobby of one of those monolithic, mega-cathedrals that most IC SPs lust for, with all the lights, sparkle, and glitter. Not to mention the hundreds of smartly dressed congregants, milling about, chattering and sipping their mochas, lattés and cappuccinos. Out of nowhere the thought came to me that “all of this, too, is going to go up in smoke on that Day.”
It was then I knew that all those massive sums of money, literally millions, would’ve been so much better spent on helping hurting people and on edifying the real “church.” And not on buildings, sound systems, jumbotrons, or even private helicopters.
Awhile back I shared the story — related to me by a certain Bible College Dean — of when he was a young man and was clerking in the business office of a famous Christian University in the Midwest. A missionary had approached the widely-known, Televangelist President and Founder of the University asking for funds to finance his work in a third-world country.
When he was told “sorry,” but there was no money to be spared, the frustrated missionary — looking around at the plush, leather furniture and opulent, gilded decorations — pointed to the 24-carat solid gold doorknobs of the president’s office door — and blurted out, “Sir, give me just one of those golden doorknobs, and I will take the Gospel to 50,000 people!”
He was politely shown the door.
-joe
February 28th, 2008 at 7:28 am
It is not a question of wanting to be rich … my observation has to do with how the relative wealth of the Church is distributed to those who need it … Larry was a brother in the Lord who needed medical / financial assistance … and like Joebib notes in the previous post, the Church has all their money tied up in buildings, lands, opulence, private jets, exorbitant salaries, self promotions, etc. So much so that there’s nothing left to help a believer who needs it. The institutional church consistently demonstrates its priority by placing acquisition, comfort and even luxury above the needs of people.
Now where Larry is a founding father of sorts - someone who through music and ministry was out pounding the streets for lost and hurting souls - the people reached by such a street ministry often wind up attending and supporting the money pit institutional churches - it seems kind of strange that there is no honor / remembrance of the one who brought them the gospel in the first place … there’s Larry in the proverbial trenches, spreading the Gospel, helping people - who once on their feet, head into the gloriously adorned temples of men and throw money at the pastor’s feet.
Serj, did you ever notice the recurrent pattern in the NT, how the apostles (who were unpaid and treated like crap) would bring the gospel to the lost, then move on, only to hear news of false apostles and money hungry men moving in to take control?
Perhaps it is the lot of true apostles, or those with an apostle’s heart (or pastor’s heart, if you prefer), to be poor? People just don’t seem to remember who healed them of their spiritual affliction, nor do they remember / honor the one who laid down his life on their behalf … no, they take their spiritual salvation and healing and promptly run off and lust after the things of the flesh …
Luke 17:11-19 BBE And it came about that when they were on the way to Jerusalem he went through Samaria and Galilee. (12) And when he went into a certain small town he came across ten men who were lepers, and they, keeping themselves at a distance, (13) Said, in loud voices, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (14) And when he saw them he said, Go, and let the priests see you. And, while they were going, they were made clean. (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was clean, turning back, gave praise to God in a loud voice; (16) And, falling down on his face at the feet of Jesus, he gave the credit to him; and he was a man of Samaria. (17) And Jesus said, Were there not ten men who were made clean? where are the nine? (18) Have not any of them come back to give glory to God, but only this one from a strange land? (19) And he said to him, Get up, and go on your way; your faith has made you well.
Ten lepers, banished to the gutters for their leprosy, healed by Jesus who is out there combing the gutters - nine of whom run off to temple as soon as they are healed … no doubt they resumed giving gifts to the temple, as if the temple had anything to do with healing them …
You know - it occurs to me - that the church fails miserably to identify the real/true appointed ministers whom God sends out … consider the men today who claim to be apostles in context with 1 Corinthians 4:9-14 … might it be said that someone like Larry Norman, who really went out among the masses is more apostolic than those pastors who are CEO over a corporate institutional church?
1 Corinthians 4:9-14 GNB (9) For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings. (10) For Christ’s sake we are fools; but you are wise in union with Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! We are despised, but you are honored! (11) To this very moment we go hungry and thirsty; we are clothed in rags; we are beaten; we wander from place to place; (12) we wear ourselves out with hard work. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; (13) when we are insulted, we answer back with kind words. We are no more than this world’s garbage; we are the scum of the earth to this very moment! (14) I write this to you, not because I want to make you feel ashamed, but to instruct you as my own dear children.
Oh well - I’m quite confident Larry’s reward in the Father’s house will be greater than that of the men who take their payment here and now …
Yes, I suspect you are right, Serj - Larry probably wanted to be poor - though his reasons were likely more to do with being an effective minister of the Gospel AND deferring his reward until he met up with Jesus …
‘Scrupe
February 28th, 2008 at 7:44 am
i see what you are saying…
what do you think about if a church did give him the money needed to get medical care, and then they get everyone with any sort of need at their door asking for money, tough situation to be in, ur disliked for not helping, but when you do help you cant help everyone so youre still disliked or hated…
February 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
You mean, the “since someone might abuse this, we won’t do it at all” objection?
But yeah, I know Serj - that’s a hard one - but no excuse to tie up the collective wealth of the Church in buildings, property, possessions …
One thing that amazes me, Serj, is just how often a pastor tells a congregation that “the church is people” - yet when it come time for the offering and he says “time to give your offering to the church” that the definition of “church” changes from “the church is people” to “the church is the building/staff/institution” … if the church is indeed “people” and we are to give our offering to real church, why not take that money you are about to drop in the offering plate (where you will NEVER see it again) and give it to the person sitting next to you? It’s one of those “presto change-o” moments that occur in many church services …
I began directed giving long before I stopped tithing … because I realized if it went into the plate (guess they use buckets at CBC?) it would go to crap I didn’t think the church needed … being a musician, I often saved my offering and then hunted down the best deal on things the worship band needed - like mics and cables, sound equipment, even a keyboard … the church provided letters of receipt and I deducted the price paid on my tax return just as if I’d given cash … then when I got some revelation about the tithe doctrine being false and a bondage to the law, I started giving directly to people as the Lord led …
Don’t know if I told this story before, but, there was a gal with MS who had very little - the Lord moved me to send her money through the mail, anonymously … as I sat down to make out the envelope of one such gift, the Walmart ad in front of me listed a new 19″ TV for $99. The $100 bill in my hand would have bought that TV - and we needed a new one. For a moment, I was tempted to keep what the Lord told me to give and use it for that TV. But I resisted that temptation and sent our friend the $100. A few days later, we picked her up before church and took her home after the service. Wheeling her into the apartment, she asked me if I wanted the 19″ RCA TV that someone had just given her … she already had a TV and didn’t need a 2nd one … so I took it. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized what the Lord had just done. The Lord had effectively DOUBLED my $100 gift and blessed both of us.
It’s funny giving like that … since starting, there have been SO many times I’ve needed something to do a project - that the Lord showed me another way where I didn’t need to spend money - we don’t have much of that to spare … once I wanted to get a special back-less chair for use when I’m recording guitar, and the Lord reminded me that there was a broken office chair in the garage - the back had come off but the seat was still serviceable … another time a $125 set of multimedia PC speakers damaged a speaker - a call to Altec proved quite insulting when the phone rep said they would not send me a speaker - rather I could send them my old system and $100 and they would send a reconditioned system … when I said I’d track down a 3″ 4 ohm speaker, they laughed at me saying “good luck” … sitting at my wifes desk, she had this old pair of tube-shaped down-firing speakers called “volcano” speakers … I’d bought them years before for $12 and the Holy Spirit said “you’ll find 3″ 4 ohm speakers in those … sure enough, when I disassembled one, the speaker was identical to the one in the $125 Altec system. And then someone gave me another cheap set of PC speakers for my wife’s PC … just a couple days ago, I remodeled a closet and needed a broom hanger - the store only sold hanging / organizing “systems” which were $40 or so and the Spirit told me not to buy it. I went home frustrated and took up another project when I got home - organizing the basement - where I found in a box of Karen’s stuff, a nifty new broom hanger she’d bought when we lived in Kent, WA and which she brought with us when we moved to IL 8 years ago. We’d even tried to sell it at a garage sale per the $3 sticker we’d put on it - but it didn’t sell. Imagine the Lord providing for our present need, 10 years ago and then making sure we held onto it by not allowing it to sell during our garage sale.
Things like that happen to me all the time. What it’s shown me, Serj, is that I need not worry about giving in the sense that it will be abused, or that if I give there won’t be enough for me should I need it later … in fact, the Father seems to be showing me that there is really no relationship between money and provision … provision seems more driven by obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit than something I have to pay cash for …
The concern that a church giving money might see abuse, and therefore keeps the money for themselves, really just goes to show that the church considers money to be their source of provision more so than the Lord. Perhaps “freely ye have received, freely give” is a balanced equation - that being IF we give liberally and freely, God will do the same in return. I don’t mean that like the tithe preachers mean it - I mean listening to God’s giving instructions and giving to His purposes and His people as led by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 9:7) - which God will bless on account of our obedience.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:43 am
‘Scrupe–
Great thoughts.
In regard to you referencing 1 Corinthians 4:9-14, I’m reminded of a story told us by Sis. Violet Kitely that actually occurred at a Minister’s Conference she attended quite a few years ago.
As the story goes, the main speaker — I seem to remember it was Jack Hayford, but I could be wrong — got up to the pulpit and said:
“Good morning.
“As I look out across the crowd here with us today, I see we have a fine collection of pastors and ministers of the Lord, and I feel blessed to personally know so many of you.”
He then began to notice the smug looks that soon appeared on many of the faces of those in the audience.
He looked down, paused for a moment, then looked up and said…
“Well, I was just wondering…how many ‘Apostles’ do we have here today?”
Not a few men, from all across the auditorium, began rising to their feet — with looks of feigned humility on their faces — and stood before the speaker.
The speaker continued.
“Good! I have a Word for all you ‘Apostles.’”
He then turned to the Corinthians 4 passage and began to slowly read what it said…
As he read, each of the “Apostles” in attendance slowly hung their heads, and one by one began to sit down.
When the speaker was finished reading, he looked up.
There was no one left standing.
Which also reminds me of something a good friend recently shared with me concerning his own ministry. While in prayer, he asked the Lord:
“Father, what am I? An Apostle? Perhaps a Prophet?
After a bit, the Father replied:
“Would you settle for being…a son?”
-joe
February 28th, 2008 at 8:46 am
BTW - the most prosperous time the Church has ever seen? It’s recorded in Acts 4:32-35
Note in that passage that the people are giving NOT to an institutional church, but to each other. Genuinely “freely giving” (Matthew 10:8) - in the sense that they were not at all possessive of what they had.
Could it be that the PEOPLE in the Church are poor, not because they are failing to give, but because they are giving to the wrong person(s) (institution and pastor)?
How I wish believers would quit giving to the pastors and institutions as the de facto trustee of the church (after all, they presume to ask for all your gifts and offerings), and start asking GOD to direct their giving. We might see Acts 4 type prosperity, once again.
And the pastor’s and institutions will squeal like stuck pigs …
February 28th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I am at a loss as to understand how this can be bad? Who cares if they ask for money? Figure out what their need is and meet it! If the money isn’t there, surely they can be helped in some way. Money isn’t the only answer. Are they hungry? Feed them! If you don’t have the food to feed them, help them find a place where they can get food. Are they in need of lodging? Again, help them find a place. In the meantime extending compassion, a loving ear, encouragement, etc. Aren’t we suppose to meet people at their need?
February 28th, 2008 at 10:20 am
jobib said:
I cut my spiritual teeth on Randy’s songs and the songs of Mr. Phil Keaggy and Annie and her siblings. It all seemed so much simpler then. We were all such hippy Jesus freaks.
“One Way, One Way to Heaven lift your hands up high” what a great anthem for a people to chose Jesus above the Yogi guy … (The Maharishi just died this week too by the way!)
February 28th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Yeah! Just like Mother Teresa. Everyone hated that tool.
March 24th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Sorry I’m so late on this, but if you have not been exposed to Larry Norman’s songwriting, check out an album entitled “One Way”, which was recorded in 1995 or ‘96, and is a tribute by DC Talk, Geoff Moore, Big Tent Revival, Rebecca St. James and numerous others to his music. Great covers and powerful stuff. Sad to see him go — but he’s rejoicing in Heaven right now.