Staying positive You can learn a lot about living from Randy Hien BY BOB GULLA

Randy Hien, esteemed proprietor of the Living Room rock club and all-around good guy, was minding his own business last winter on his way home from work in the wee hours of the morning, when a speeding SUV, piloted by an allegedly drunk driver, came the wrong way down an exit ramp. Randy braced himself for impact. He was in a coma for four days.

Since then, Hien has endured 18 hours of surgery for various broken bones and severed nerves and arteries, most recently on his right hand, where he hasn’t had feeling since the accident. He still has a broken ankle and a broken foot. His next surgery will be a left knee replacement, as soon as his hand works so he can hold the crutches. After that, in a year, most likely, he’ll have his right knee replaced.

Until now, Hien’s beaten but unbowed body has healed in a number of places, including his back, sternum, ribs, nose, and clavicle, all of which were broken. But he has remained remarkably, almost miraculously, positive. Life-changing traumas like this bring out the best in some people and such is the case with Randy. "What a year it’s been," he says, sounding a bit out of breath. "I’ve been able to get out of the wheelchair a bit and do some walking, and I’ve been able to drive for a month or so, which helps a lot."

An avid baseball fan and Little League coach, Hien also managed to hold on to his duties with the Little League team in his hometown of Lincoln, which made it all the way to Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the Little League World Series. "I said to someone earlier this year that our Little League team would go to the World Series and that the Red Sox were gonna win the World Series and he said he thought the accident damaged my brain. But look what happened!"

Two months after the accident, Hien’s wife had a baby, which means now they have a six-month-old, a one-year-old, and a two-year-old, along with an adopted former foster child who’s 14. Right before the accident they had moved into a bigger house to accommodate the whole gang. The move gave them room, but put a strain on finances. Then the accident came and the clamps really came down. "That was the first thing I thought of when I came out of the coma: ‘we’re gonna lose the house.’ "

But the kindness of family and friends has saved the house, and allowed the Hiens to stay above water — barely. A benefit at the Living Room this weekend is another gesture that means more to the family than anyone could realize. "Without the help we’d be in big trouble," he says, "But we’re staying positive and trying to make a good life for our babies."

Incidentally, Hien has also forgiven the man who hit him. In an incredibly Christian act, he even went so far as to ask the court not to send him to jail, even though the felony conviction would have resulted in at least two years of incarceration.

This Saturday (the 6th), Hien’s fans and friends will be able to show their love and appreciation by attending a benefit in his honor at the Living Room. This special night will mark the reuniting of a number of bands that were in the center of the maelstrom that was the early New England punk and new wave scenes, during which the Living Room on Westminster Street served as de facto headquarters. David Minehan and Lee Harrington of the Neighborhoods, for a time the hottest rockers in Boston (remember "Prettiest Girl"?), will appear on the bill as Señor Citizen. Rhody’s foremost combo, the Schemers, who served as the unofficial Living Room house band in those days, and the ferocious Neutral Nation, infamous for their incendiary live act, will also be on hand. And Casey Lindstrom, the power behind two essential units, the New Models and Shake the Faith, is making the show, which will also feature WBRU Rock Hunt Champs the Lingo, Newport’s favorite sons Big World, and up-and-comers Blues Bastard. "I’m really looking forward to it," says Hien, who will be there with his wife. "I wouldn’t miss it for the world. These are my good good friends and it’s gonna be a great time."

"There’s No Place Like Home:The Prodigal Sons Return for the Benefit of Mr. Randy Hien" will start at 7 p.m. at 23 Rathbone Street in Providence. The cover charge is $10. Call (401) 521-5200.

IMMUNE TO CRITICISM. The latest band of rock and roll apostates to take their act westward, Immune, tells us that things are continuing "to roll along." The band has a smokin’ new drummer, John Skaare, and he and singer Rob Schulze are beginning to make inroads into movies. They’re both in Disney’s forthcoming flick Herbie Fully Loaded (with Lindsay Lohan and Matt Damon) and as zombies in a horror movie called All Souls Day. Rob also ended up doubling for Nascar driver Jeff Gordon in the Herbie movie and is now going to be seen throughout the film in many of Jeff Gordon’s racing scenes. The band recently updated its website, www.immuneri.com, with new pics and show listings. "Speaking of shows," says Rob Schultz, "we’re making a big dent here, opened for Seven Mary 3 at a great venue called Key Club on 10/2, then we played a huge show at Hard Rock Cafe Beverly Center on 10/22. We are playing Sunset Strip’s Cat Club as a favor to our pals at the Viper Room on 11/3." Oh, yeah, and "the weather is great."

WESTPORT FEST DOES BEST. More than 1000 music lovers headed to Westport, Massachusetts this past September in support of the 11th Annual Westport Rock Rhythm & Blues Festival, raising $23,000 to benefit A Wish Come True, Inc., Rhode Island’s oldest wish-granting organization. Frankie Ray, the chairman of the festival, says the event has raised more than $100,000 for the charity since starting out, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, volunteers and, of course, the musicians who provide the entertainment. Ray is editing footage for a one-hour piece on the event, which is expected to air this month on Charter Communications cableTV as a segment of the local public access program Westport Matters. Keep an eye out for that, and congratulations, guys, on a profoundly commendable act of kindness.

WANDERING EYE. On Sunday (the 7th), the Catfish Grill (1035 West Shore Road, Warwick) will host "A Tribute To Rick Mendes," the late leader of Blueswagon and the Probers. The show, which runs from 2 to 10 p.m., will feature Dave Howard and the High Rollers, Killer Kane and the Blue FOs, the Automatics, Smokestack Lightnin, Roger Ceresi, and the Urge. Tickets are $15, and all proceeds will go to the Mendes Children Scholarship Fund. Call 497-7804 for more info.

Bill Bartholomew and Chris Knott of Acid Rain Revival will each play solo acoustic sets Thursday (the 4th) at the URI Coffee House in Kingston. The show is at 8 p.m., and it’s free to all ages.

On Saturday, Pete Rock & Gigdates Present a huge night of rock and roll over at Cats in Pawtucket with State of Corruption, On the Drop, Fear Nuttin, J-Base, and Devoid all bringing the noise.

Chan’s is really busy this week. On Friday, Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood bring their torrid blues-rock to town. On Saturday, Aztec Two-Step celebrates the recent release of their new album, Days of Horses, as well as three decades together. Join Rex and Neal and that acoustic pop harmony thing of theirs they do so well. But get there early or buy tix now, cuz it’ll be a big night. On Monday, blues guitarist Coco Montoya performs at 8 and 10 p.m. Montoya’s done time with kingpins like Albert Collins and John Mayall so you know the pedigree is first-rate.

I got the website wrong last week for Tomorrow’s Remedy. It is www.tomorrowsremedy.com, which makes total sense to me.

E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.