Rod Swenson

I am just receiving this sad news, as I was searching the Internet to find a way to contact him! I met Rod back around 1977 when he was interested in my band, Kongress. I wrote many of our songs, but with our Madgician fronting Kongress back then, we did much improvisation. He came to see us at The Elgin Theater, but he decided to work on bringing The Plasmatics to the world, ironically with a bass player that once played with Kongress. He managed to videotape the Madgician, Geoffrey Crozier (also passed), at Max's Kansas City in color and was kind enough to forward those U-Matic 3/4" tapes to me for my own use years ago. There is a video on my Youtube.com/ottovr site titled 'Madgicians' of that recording, but I added Kongress musick as the soundtrack to the 1977 Halloween Show visuals. Rod was a mystery man, as I lost contact with him. I guess my previous search's for his online presence came up empty because he was already gone before Twitter or Facebook accounts existed! I tried reading some of the links I found with his very deep discourse about technical realms beyond my understanding. I hope this isn't too much to ask, but if in his possessions, anyone has come across a cassette labelled 'Kongress', I would much appreciate knowing about it and hope if any still exist, that some family member would be so kind as to send the same to me at some point. I imagine 14 years after his passing most of those objects have been discarded, but I had to ask. Please email if you find/found anything of such identity. Rest In Peace Rod - you are missed by many who you touched with your ideas and musical adventures...I am, Otto von Ruggins

The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief. We have so many memories of Rod. He was always there when help was needed. We will think of him every time we sit on our patio that he and Stan put in. Going to the casino will not be the same without him. We will always remember serching for him in the casino. He could always find a place to hide.

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. I am sorry for your loss.

Christine Stangl (Lindmeyer)

I remember when I went up to Lowry to stay with my Grandma Swenson every summer and the whole Swenson family would get to geather on Sunday afternoons and all of us cousins would play out side and Rod always was so much fun to be around.. His humor was sooooooooo great. We all would be laughing at the things that he would say... He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. God bless you all and you will be in my prayers. Evie