Norman Famous

Mysterious, Opinionated, Musician

April 2007

 

Norman and the Backorders will be hunkerin’ down to do some recording over the next several weeks, although a live performance is always a possibility. Watch this space!

 

Norman would like to thank the artists who have been sending him music for review.

 

...the only problem is that Norman is no longer writing reviews.

 

February 2007

 

Norman will be performing with the Backorders and Belleville at Ireland’s 32 Pub in San Francisco on Friday, February 23 at 9 PM. Norman and the Backorders will be doing a special St. Patrick’s Day performance on Saturday, March 17 at John Patrick’s Pub in Alameda. Belleville performs on Thursday, March 22 at Grant and Green Saloon in San Francisco. Visit thebackorders.com or bellevillemusic.net for more info (if there’s more to be had).

 

As Sparky Grinstead, Norman is working with Backorders keyboardist Eric Kampman on a new release. Titled Winter Comes and Goes, it’s a collection of songs that, according to Norman/Sparky, “...were supposed to be recorded back in ‘85 but for some reason I never got around to it. I tried again in 2001 after El Sob broke up, but I lost my voice. So now I’m trying again.” The album is expected to be released sometime this year along with the CD reissue of Sparky’s 1984 classic Rodent to Rodent. If you’d like to hear some of the new Sparky music, go to Norman’s Music, using the navigation tab on the left, and feast your ears.

 

Sparky’s old friend and Bonkeenie buddy Greg Reznick has now officially joined the Backorders on rhythm guitar and vocals. He played his first gig as a Backorder at Ireland’s 32 on November 2. It was the first time Sparky and Greg had played on stage together in 30 years (wow!). Welcome back, Greg!

 

October 2006

 

Norman will be performing with the Backorders and Belleville and Ireland's 32 pub in San Francisco on Thursday, November 2nd. Visit thebackorders.com or bellevillemusic.net for more info if there's more info to be had!

 

Norman is currently recording a collection of his songs with Backorders keyboardist Eric Kampman. You can hear some of what they've come up with in the music section of this here website!

 

Norman is also hard at work on the Sparky Grinstead reissue project. Although no release is scheduled for this year, in 2007 Sparky's unreleased masterpiece from 1984, "Rodent To Rodent", should see the light of day. Norman and engineer Mike Cogan of Bay Records have been piecing it together for the past several months using Sparky's original production notes and the 4-track masters.

 

Guitarist Greg Reznick, a former member of Sparky's 70's band The Bonkeenies of America, has been rehearsing with the Backorders. With Norman ( I mean, Sparky) and Robin Famous (who was also using a different name back then) that brings together 3 members of that late great band for the first time since, well, ever!