“Greenbelt Shines On” extract from Buzz Magazine (October 1980)

Not everyone appreciated Larry Norman’s sense of humour.  Some were offended by the political slant of his jokes at the expense of President Carter and the abortive rescue attempt for the American Embassy hostages in Iran.  But no-one could fail to appreciate the more inspiring moments of his chats between songs.  It seemed as if the self-examination going through his own mind had burst to the surface - and he had to ask his audience the same questions he’s been asking himself.

“Why do we live like this?”, he asked the hushed crowd.  It suddenly dawned on them that, for the moment at least, the joking was over.  “Even now some of you will be planning sins for tomorrow. Why?  We are becoming immune to sin.  We grow colder and our hearts get harder.  Suddenly we find that we’re comfortable with our hang-ups.  Be careful with your lives.  You only have one.  It’s not a rehearsal.”

“We don’t seem to realise what effect we have on people.  We’re always fooling around with others as if they were checkers or Monopoly pieces.  We’re supposed to be here to love people, to affect them, and give them the opportunity that God gave us to be born again.  We’re not just here to have a good time.  I think we should try a little harder”.

Perhaps he should listen to his own words.  Larry affects the image of a weary rock ‘n’ roller who’s seen it all before - been through the tough and tiring school of life - and come out the hardened experienced veteran woth many warnings to give.  Unfortunately the image of the jaded rock ‘n’ roller is several years out of date - and if he’s not careful he’ll remain so stuck in his own mould that he’ll lose all relevance for his fans.

Roger Green/Lindsay Tuffin