Norman Nardini

Norman Nardini has been a fixture of Pittsburgh’s music scene for over 50 years, dubbing himself the “Uncrowned King” and “high priest from the church of rock ‘n roll.” Starting with local bands in the ’60s, he rose to national prominence with Diamond Reo, whose 1975 hit “Ain’t That Peculiar” led to tours with KISS, Aerosmith, and more. After Diamond Reo disbanded, Nardini formed Norman Nardini & The Tigers, earning regional success and befriending a young Jon Bon Jovi. Their album Eat’n Alive (1981) led to a deal with CBS, and in 1991 they scored hits in Germany with “Smoke Two Joints” and “Please Don’t Talk About Me.” Nardini has continued recording and performing, releasing albums like Breakdown in Paradise (2009) and Bona Fide (2011), and remains a beloved live act in Pittsburgh.