The late Larry Norman gets critical acclaim; new revelations emerge
MAINSTREAM music critical acclaim and new controversy have arisen over the life and times of Jesus music pioneer Larry Norman, who died in February. The acclaim has come following the recent release by The Arena Rock Recording Company of a compilation 'Rebel Poet, Jukebox Balladeer: The Anthology'. The CD contains many of the singer/songwriter's best known recordings including "I Wish We'd All Been Ready", "The Great American Novel", "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music", "Reader's Digest" and "The Outlaw". Amongst the rave reviews has been one in the influential Rolling Stone magazine.
Controversy has spread with the publication by World magazine and other internet sites of the details of a sexual relationship Larry had with an Australian girl, Jennifer Wallace, in 1988 which resulted in Norman fathering an illegitimate child, Daniel. The revelations about Larry have prompted the writing and recording of the song "Larry's Son" by Scotland-based singer/songwriter Sammy Horner, now available for download.
The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
I thought the fallen Angel movie came across in a way that obscured the point that holds the most weight which in my opinion is getting Daniel legally recognized. It would have been a complete movie just to explore Daniel's situation and stick on that one unassailable fact. That might be something that one COULD do in a loving way that could treat Jennifer, Daniel AND Larry with respect. That could be truly a 'Bible Story'. Can't we handle difficult subjects without trying to completely destroy those that have a different perspective? But by trying to cover so much in so little time but from only one side of the controversy the film comes across as very unfair and unbalanced and hardly 'christian'.
A friend I brought to the movie (who didn't know anything about Larry Norman before seeing the movie) said they felt drug through the mud and said to them it seemed like what they called a "hatchet job".
Several of the articles said that Norman had been diagnosed with bipolar trauma, but for some reason this important point goes unexamined in the movie.
Some rebuttal to some of the points in the movie: http://www.failedangle.com