03. Larry Norman

Christian rock wasn’t always a thing, until the controversial singer-songwriter Larry Norman (1947 – 2008) came around. After having a minor hit with the 60's psych-rock group People, he had an epiphany and got "saved." In an era when the church deemed rock and roll evil, Larry wrote a song called “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music.” He threw a wrench in the gears of rock and roll history as we know it and started his own label, Solid Rock Records. His fans include Black Francis of the Pixies, Lee Hazlewood, Eric Clapton, and yours truly. My friends Jeremy, Peter and I discuss this game-changing artist’s career (and his influence) at length.

Recommendations:

Larry's official website has lots of his music and merchandise available for purchase.

His 1969 debut "Upon This Rock" set a new standard for gospel music.

His album "Only Visiting This Planet" dealt with issues the religious establishment usually shied away from and cast him as a sort of Bob Dylan for the Jesus Movement.

A live video of Larry with guest vocalist and superfan Black Francis of the Pixies, heard on this episode:

Here's a trailer for the documentary "Fallen Angel: The Outlaw Larry Norman"

Gregory Alan Thornbury's excellent biography on Larry, from Penguin Random House. Click the image below.