Shawn O'Domski said:
I was unaware of his musical background though.
With all due respect to Rich Lupo, Randy was responsible for growing the Providence local rock scene into what it is. In the late 70's if you were in a band and wanted to play your own songs, you had few options. Most clubs in the state at that time would only book cover bands. Randy gave kids a stage to nurture their craft and get their songs heard. In the late 70s / early 80s bands like the Mundanes, the Schemers, the Hi-Beams, Rash of Stabbings, and later, Neutral Nation, That'll Learn Ya, Throwing Muses, and so many others got their shot because Randy had a place for them to play. He also was ahead of the curve with national bands, booking then-little known bands like Husker Du, Flipper, the Minutemen, The Alarm, and, oh yeah, a bunch of kids from Athens GA called R.E.M.
Some shows I'll always remember fondly -
Joan Jett in winter 1982, right as "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit #1 on the Billboard charts, the place jam-packed with people standing on top of the pinball machines and the barstools to see over the crowd.
X playing one unbearable hot humid August night, when it was 105 degree that afternoon, around 95 degrees after sunset, and about 120 degrees inside the building, with Billy Zoom in his standard pose, bass slung low, looking just as cool as can be while everyone else was melting in the steam.
Sam Kinison shouting
[EDIT]in his encore bit about World Hunger.
Warren Zevon on a grand piano singing about Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
So many others, I could go on all night......
[EDIT-profanity]
