Gregory James Norton (born 13 March 1959) is an American bassist, formerly of the band

Hüsker Dü Hüsker Dü () was an American punk rock band formed in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1979. The band's continuous members were guitarist/vocalist Bob Mould, bassist Greg Norton, and drummer/vocalist Grant Hart. They first gained notability as a hardc ...

Early life

Norton was born in

Davenport, Iowa Davenport ( ) is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. It is situated along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state. Davenport had a population of 101,724 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 cen ...

, as this was the most local Catholic hospital to his family’s home in

Rock Island, Illinois Rock Island is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The population was 37,108 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located at the confluence of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock a ...

. He attended

Henry Sibley High School Two Rivers High School (formerly known as Henry Sibley High School), in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, United States, was founded in 1954. The school was built in 1971 to serve students in grades 9–12. Today, it serves students in grades 9–12 an ...

Mendota Heights Mendota Heights ( ) is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States. It is a first-ring southern suburb of the Twin Cities. The population was 11,744 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has ...

, Minnesota.

Career

Norton first began playing with the band that would become

with

Grant Hart Grant Vernon Hart (March 18, 1961 – September 13, 2017) was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Hüsker Dü. After the band's breakup in 1988, he released his first solo album, ''Intolerance'', before fo ...

Bob Mould Robert Arthur Mould (born October 16, 1960) is an American musician, principally known for his work as guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü in the 1980s and Sugar (American band), Sugar in the 1990s. Early ...

, and keyboardist Charlie Pine in 1979 after meeting them through his job at the

Saint Paul Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

record store Cheapo Records. Norton played bass on all of Hüsker Dü's recordings from its formation to its breakup. While the majority of the band's songwriting was done by bandmates Bob Mould and Grant Hart, Norton contributed the songs "M.T.C.", "Don't Have A Life", "Let's Go Die" and "Everytime". After Hüsker Dü disbanded in 1988, Norton formed the band Grey Area with Colin Mansfield (Hüsker Dü engineer and former member of Fine Art) and Jo Jones. After Grey Area disbanded in 1991, Norton left the music business and opened The Norton's Restaurant (now closed) in

Red Wing, Minnesota Red Wing is a city in and the county seat of Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, along the upper Mississippi River. The population was 16,547 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is part of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropo ...

. Norton returned to the recording industry in 2006, with a new avant jazz band, Gang Font feat. Interloper. The group is composed of Norton, Dave King (of

the Bad Plus The Bad Plus is an American jazz group from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, formed in 2000. They were originally a piano trio, but became a quartet in 2021: founding members Reid Anderson on bass and David King on drums, as well as guit ...

Happy Apple Happy Apple is an American jazz trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Initially formed in 1996 by David King (drums), Michael Lewis (saxophone), Anton Denner (saxophone) and Cully Swansen (bass), since 1998 the lineup has consisted of King, Le ...

Halloween, Alaska Halloween, Alaska is a Minnesota-based band consisting of James Diers (voice, guitar, keys), Jake Hanson (brother of Tapes 'n Tapes drummer Jeremy Hanson, guitar), Bill Shaw (electric bass guitar), and Dave King (acoustic and electronic drums). ...

12 Rods 12 Rods (also known by the stylistic variants 12RODS and Twelve Rods) was an American indie rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group was formed in Oxford, Ohio in 1992, later relocating to Minneapolis in 1995 where it was based until it ...

and the Love-Cars), Erik Fratzke of Zebulon Pike and

, and

Craig Taborn Craig Marvin Taborn (; born February 20, 1970) is an American pianist, organist, keyboardist and composer. He works solo and in bands, mostly playing various forms of jazz. He started playing piano and Moog synthesizer as an adolescent and was i ...

. In 2016, Norton joined

La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...

band Porcupine as their bass player to replace Davey Reinders. In 2022, Norton joined the band Ultrabomb as their bass player. However, before the band could begin its tour in the UK, Norton was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The band cancelled its planned appearances in England and Scotland so Norton could undergo treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. The band subsequently released its debut album, ''Dying to Smile'', in 2024. Norton has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the

Minneapolis Minneapolis is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 429,954 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the state's List of cities in Minnesota, most populous city. Locat ...

nightclub First Avenue for his work with Hüsker Dü. The stars recognize performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.

References

External links

Greg Norton's MySpace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norton, Greg 1959 births Living people American punk rock bass guitarists Alternative rock bass guitarists People from Rock Island, Illinois Hüsker Dü members Hardcore punk musicians American restaurateurs Guitarists from Minnesota Guitarists from Illinois American male bass guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians