Greg Norton

Greg Norton
Born	Rock Island
Nationality	United States of America
Genres	alternative rock
Instruments	bass guitar

This article is about the bassist. For other people with the same name, see Greg Norton (disambiguation).

Greg Norton
Norton in 1986
Background information
Birth name	Gregory James Norton
Born	(1959-03-13) 13 March 1959 Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Musician, guitarist
Instrument(s)	Bass guitar
Years active	1979–present

Gregory James Norton (born March 13, 1959) is an American musician, formerly of the band Hüsker Dü.

Early life

Norton was born in Davenport, Iowa, as this was the most local Catholic hospital to his family’s home in Rock Island, Illinois. He attended Henry Sibley High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

Career

Hüsker Dü's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

Norton first began playing with the band that would become Hüsker Dü with Grant Hart, Bob Mould, and keyboardist Charlie Pine in 1979 as "Buddy and the Returnables," after meeting them through his job at St. Paul record store Cheapo Records.

Norton played bass on all of Hüsker Dü's recordings from its formation to its breakup album Warehouse: Songs and Stories. 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" and "Let's Go Die" to Hüsker Dü's debut EP Land Speed Record.

After Hüsker Dü disbanded in 1988, Norton formed the band Grey Area with Hüsker Dü engineer and former member of Fine Art Colin Mansfield as well as Jo Jones. After Grey Area disbanded in 1991, Norton left the music business to focus on the restaurant business, opening The Norton's Restaurant (now closed) in Red Wing, Minnesota. 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, Happy Apple, Halloween, Alaska, 12 Rods and the Love-Cars), Erik Fratzke of Zebulon Pike and Happy Apple, and Craig Taborn.

In 2016, Norton joined La Crosse, Wisconsin band Porcupine as their bass player to replace Davey Reinders.

Norton has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis 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.