1960's Music

Tony played bass guitar in North London mod band The Rest from 1964. In 1967 he became London pop correspondent for Jackie at a time when the teen magazine sold one million copies a week.

In 1968 Tony became Assistant Editor of Music Now. Sixties interviews and articles Tony has on file include:

• John Lennon. Mick Jagger. Mick Taylor - Rolling Stones.
  
• Stones in Hyde Park - Review.
  
• Bob Dylan at the Isle of Wight - Review.
• The Bonzo Dog Band. Peter Frampton – Humble Pie.
• David Bowie. Jack Bruce – Cream.
  
• Ian Anderson – Jethro Tull. John Kay – Steppenwolf. The Nice.
  
• Jimmy Page – Led Zeppelin. Peter Green – Fleetwood Mac.
  
• Roy Wood – The Move. Marc Bolan - Tyrannosaurus Rex.
  
• Jose Feliciano. The Doors. Canned Heat. John Mayall.
• Keith Emerson – Mike d’Abo – Manfred Mann.

1970's Music

Tony interviews Ringo Starr at the 1972 Born To Boogie press launch.   Photo: Alec Byrne

Tony continued to write for Music Now in 1970-71, then went freelance. He wrote for the NME and interviewed musicians for Radio 1’s ‘Scene & Heard’. Seventies interviews/articles Tony has on file include:

Elton John. John Entwhistle. Marc Bolan. Procol Harum.

Steppenwolf. Stevie Wonder. James Taylor. The Kinks.

Blood Sweat & Tears. Cat Stevens. Donovan. The Doors.

Moody Blues. Deep Purple. Roy Wood. Mungo Jerry.

Spencer Davis. Bath Festival of Music 1970 - Review.

The Nice. Sandy Denny, Dave Swarbrick. The Monkees. 

Jethro Tull. Steeleye Span. John Anderson – Yes.

Mott The Hoople. Arthur Brown. Pentangle. The Nice.

Peter Frampton. Canned Heat. Manfred Mann.

Tony’s Radio 1 interviews include a 12 minute rap with Marc Bolan,
featured on the T.Rex ‘Born to Boogie’ CD

Tony Norman’s work as a rock journalist is featured on the Marc Bolan Born to Boogie CD, which features music from Ringo Starr’s movie of T. Rex in their heyday.

The double CD includes a 12 minute interview from 1971, when Marc spoke to Tony about his life and music. The interview was originally recorded for the Radio 1 show Scene & Heard. Tony says: 'I knew Marc well. The things I remember best about him are his bright mind, his humour and his love of life. I’m happy to be part of the new CD. Hearing the interview again brought back good memories.'

1980's Music

In 1982 Tony was manager/songwriter with The Mobiles who went to number 9 in the UK charts with their hit single Drowning In Berlin. Tony also worked as freelance music photographer.

Eighties photo sessions Tony has on file include:

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.  Adam Ant. The Beat. Imagination. Limahl. Bananarama. Kim Wilde.
Toyah Willcox. Bad Manners. Jools Holland. Heaven 17. Haircut 100. Helen Terry - Culture Club. China Crisis. Hayzee Fantayzee. The Teardrop Explodes. XTC (left)

In January 1982, Eastbourne band The Mobiles hit the UK Top Ten with their song, Drowning In Berlin. ‘I started out writing songs with the band,’ says Tony Norman, ‘and ended up managing them.

'They went on Top of The Pops and gave a superb performance, but it didn’t take me long to decide I wasn’t cut out to be a pop group manager. Still, we all have good memories of that amazing time.’

Tony co-wrote five of the tracks on a new Best of… album, out now on Cherry Red Records.

Catalogue number CDM RED 309.