He's not actually on a list. If he regains strength and stays strong for at least another month or so, the doctors say he can get on the list. I really hate to be pessimistic, but I honestly don't think that's going to happen. He's too weak and his health has steadily declined to this point within the past year. In the 20 years I've known him, I've never seen him this bad, not even after he had a stroke 4 or so years ago. 

My point is, if you're planning to visit him, visit him now. It may be your last chance, and I'm not being overly dramatic. 

For those of you trying to put a face with the name, Randy is on the cover of Charlie Parr's "King Earl" album (in the foreground).

Thanks much for posting this, by the way....

Thanks, Paul. Here's a fun little background story for y'all. 

Charlie told me he wanted an intimidating, pissed-off, scruffy-looking guy for the cover and I instantly said I know exactly who you're looking for - Randy Jorgensen. The three of us went out on a photo shoot a couple weeks after, and the two of them became instant friends and laughed like crazy. Which sucked for me, because no matter what I did, I couldn't get a shot of Randy or Charlie looking anywhere near intimidating or pissed off (scruffy was no problem). Not to mention, it was a really nice bright sunny winter day. After about three hours shooting photos all over Duluth with no luck whatsoever, a quick thought came to me. I told Charlie he had to stop his truck and hop out (we happened to be in the West End at the time). He hopped out and walked around while I walked directly into the sun. I put by back to the sun, lined things up quickly and told them both to look at me and shot the pic. That's why they both look pissed off... really, neither of them are... they're just trying to look at me while I'm directly in the sun.

Thanks, Zra - one of the best I've ever taken for an album. I was lucky. 

Some asides - the two in the photo are a couple of the most salt of the earth guys you'd ever like to meet. I know we all know about Charlie, but same goes for Randy. I think both of them may have been cut from the same switch, which makes the photo even more weird for me, given Randy's current state. Back in the day, Randy was punk icon in Duluth, which Baci can back me up on. He's not as old as you may think - he was only 47 when this photo was taken (6 years ago).

One last aside.... the truck Randy is sitting in is the same that Charlie drove to Montana to star in a movie that was accepted by Sundance and nominated for awards.... that no one will ever see. Only the soundtrack is available. 

There's a lot of history in that photo....

ohm Randy. 

20 + years ago and yet I for one will never forget your silent charm.

love and blessings to you.

Keep up the good thoughts!  Randy has always been an inspiration to me.  He shall survive!  Long live Randy. I cannot express what he means to me.

Hi Tanya This is Randy's great niece,remember me.I just saw Randy for the first time in years.My mom and I and Paulie went to see him.The nurses say it is just a matter of time.He is real weak.Not really making any real eye contact or any communication.It is so amazing how many people know him and have sent him wishes. Thank you. Colleen

Hey, ToWaRd, thanks for the e-mail update on Saturday. If you see this, please check your inbox.

I just talked to my mom and uncle paul (randy's brother) Randy is having a good day today and is rallying back.

Jeremy, your daughter is beautiful! Thanks for sharing that story and the photograph. 2 years ago in July, I had the joy of meeting my newly born grand-daughter, and there's no sweeter feeling in the world. My thoughts are with you.

sorry Christian to give false hope. He has a few alert moments when his girlfriend comes each day but that is about the only time there is positive response from Uncle Randy.He is not eating or drinking.His throat just isn't working much.His girlfriend,brother,and sister see him daily along with friends.There isn't much improvement.He takes swabs of water from a sponge.He communicates with his eyes when they are open.He sleeps alot which can be healing as his brother says.But we have hope

Just heard from my mom Randy has went to a better place.Last night at midnight.Colleen

For anyone who may have some input, there are two songs, that for years and years Randy said he wanted played at his funeral, the first being, Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division, and the second, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) by Talking Heads. I promised him many times over that I would do anything in my power to ensure that happened for him. Perhaps this has changed over the years, but I had to put it out there. A promise is a promise.

Oh, I'm so sad... I'm going to listen to both these songs in his honor when I get home from school this afternoon.

Tanya, thanks for reminding me about the two songs. Randy made me promise to play one more: Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno. I'm planning to bring at least a boombox and I'll play the songs even if I have to blast them from the parking lot.

4100 Grand ave. I just talked to Uncle Paulie.He was going to call Ali.They couldn't remember the name of the song but knew it was talking heads.thank you.My kids are 10 and 14 and never got to meet Randy but I brought them up to see him at hospice.Not the best time to meet their great Uncle.

Once again, thanks for the info, Colleen, and you're most welcome. If there is anything at all I can do, please let me know.

I'm sorry your kids never got to meet the "real" Randy. I'm sad that his grand-daughter will never get to know him either, but knowing him, he's watching over her, and weeping those same tears of joy that Jeremy mentioned in his post.

Miss you Randy.
We only re-connected a few times since the old days when I lived in Duluth. I remember our old talks, and music explorations. The time you kept watch over that month long installation I did up there so long ago now, after I'd moved to Minneapolis. 
How you painted yourself blue, and performed musically (with Rugged Fish,) in the middle of it all during the opening night.

I trust you've finally found what you were always looking for.

Rest in peace.
-Venus

Hey, Renee.

Yes, I'm Tracy (Wold) now Julian.  I remember you well.  Thank you for your thoughtful words.  This all has been pretty devastating for all of us.  While Randy and I were only together and married for around 7 years, we always remained friends.  We produced a wonderful son and shared the joy of having a beautiful granddaughter.  His love for his son and granddaughter was off the charts.  I truly wish he could have stayed around to see his second grandchild, who's due to be born at the end of this year.  I'm positive he'll be there in Spirit, though.  My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Ali and all his friends and family.  We've all lost someone precious and unique with his passing.  We'll all miss him and I hope with all my heart he has found some peace at last.

Tracy Julian

I was going to say something about that van. All the shocks and struts were broken and it barely had brakes. I called it the "clown van" because it so ridiculously loomed down the road in all four directions that I half-expected a never-ending stream of clowns to come pouring out of it some day. He would always laugh. The only way to slow it down on the Duluth hills was to throw it into a lower gear, or you'd end up in the lake. I kept telling him he really should at least get his brakes fixed. I mean, the thing was dangerous... all he would do is laugh. One night during winter ('93, '94?), we stopped at Last Chance Liquor to pick up supplies for a party and when he stopped the van, I heard a huge "BANG!" I told him I'd crawl under the van to see what happened while he bought supplies. I ducked my head under the driver's side wheel well and saw that the entire brake caliper had exploded off the front driver's side tire (literally exploded!). I've never seen that happen since. He still drove that beast for a couple of weeks thereafter before getting another vehicle - a 1960's Dodge Dart. He really loved that van. In the back were things he'd collected - rusty metal things, dried shelf mushrooms, sticks, bones.... I told him he should really think about cleaning it up, especially when he had a first date with Susanna Hogan (anyone know what happened to her????). He emphatically told me no. That wasn't junk, he said... those things were treasures. 

Such was the life of Randy.