Randy Hien--rip--The Living Room

[randy]

Its been over a week since he was killed and nobody here has mentioned it, so I thought I would bring it up. Outside of Southern New England he probably was not known well. Owner of Providences The Living Room--THE place in the 80's to be in RI. Randy was THE guy that hugely supported all the local bands of the era ( and still supported them right through 2006 ), as well as the guy that brought almost every "alternative" act of the 80's through Providence. REM, X, Bow Wow Wow, Lords Of The New Church, Red Rockers, Johnny Thunders, etc,etc,etc. Friends of mine had a band and opened for a lot of awesome acts back then-the nights they opened I was fotunate enough to meet/talk with/drink with members of the bands they opened for such as the ones I just mentioned. Randy will be missed. Figured I would post this for any transplanted Southern New Englanders out there.

http://www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid23807.aspx

[Otters Walk Among Us]

damn, I had no idea.

I was always thankful that, although the Living Room had an official over 18 policy, they didn't enforce it. As long as you weren't trying to drink, you were welcome. I took advantage of that to see and hear lots of great music between '86 and '89, which I wouldn't have been able to do had I lived outside of Boston, NY, or most other cities. Each show was followed by a sandwich at the Haven Bros. Diner, of course.

[randy]

The Living Room was my home away from home in the 80's. I saw so many great shows there I could not even begin to mention them all. Randy was a pioneer of the times. Many a night I sat right in the Big Bubble taking it all in. Those were the days!!!!!!!!!

My haunted house that I mentioned on a previous post was not too far from there and many a night-after the show-a huge contingent from the Living Room ended up at my house. Definatly a cool time in my life!!!!

Oddly enough--when the story was first on the news, there was no mention of The Living Room--just his life as a coach. The fact they didnt mention The Living Room made me think it wasnt THE Randy. It wasnt till I picked up the Phoenix that I saw it really WAS him.