Dropping the Needle on Electric Jesus \ Michael Roe of The 77s

Michael Roe, songwriter, singer, and guitarist for The 77s, talks about his band's unique Christian rock journey on Episode 7 of #ejesuspodcast.

When the 77s came of age in 1984, with the brilliant calling card of All Fall Down, it was evident to those who heard it that this was something new. For anyone truly in love with rock & roll, who loved passion, hooks, harmony, three (or four) chords and the truth, here was a band that delivered.

And if you listened to college radio that year, you could hear it. A look at the college charts found The 77s in the same company as The Cure, Let's Active, The Replacements, The Church, and others. What The 77's had that the other bands didn't was the history of all rock & roll breathing and pulsating under a brand new sound: Jerry Lee, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, all there right in the room with more contemporary influences like The Smiths or the Comsat Angels.

Live, the shows were increasingly incendiary, Mike Roe channeling everything that had come before him and spitting out a new vision on guitar and vocals long into the night. If your idea of a great time was coming to a place where The Velvet Underground and U2 might meet, this was it.

Co-hosted by ELECTRIC JESUS writer-director Chris White and Music Supervisor/CCM Historian John J. Thompson, and featuring composer Daniel Smith, Season 1 - Electric Jesus: The Music Behind the Movie explores the world of 1980s Christian rock music with an eye toward the creation of the film’s unforgettable original songs and score, the power of nostalgia, Evangelical youth group culture, and the Christian rock songs and artists that appear in the movie, ELECTRIC JESUS.

EPISODE SONG LIST: 'Commando for Christ' 316, 'Do the Barabbas!' Familyre Friends, 'Space Cowgirl' Michael Roe and Mark Harmon, 'Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba' The 77s, 'Perfect Blues' The 77s, 'Wild Boys' The Scratch Band w/ Steve Scott, 'How Can You Love' The 77s, 'Render Love' The Choir, 'The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride of Life' The 77s, 'Do It For Love' The 77s, 'Love Without Dreams' The 77s, 'Nuts for You' The 77s, 'Honey Run' Michael Roe, 'Just One Look' Wild Blue Yonder, 'This Disco (Used To Be a Cute Cathedral)' Steve Taylor, 'She’s On Fire' Lifesavers, 'Memory Lane' Daniel Amos, 'Off the Wall' - Rob Cassels Band, 'Passion In the Radio' The 77s, 'Mercy Mercy' The 77s.

LINKS: Electric Jesus: Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture https://lnk.to/ElectricJesus. EJ Official Website https://electricjesusfilm.com/. EJ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ejesusfilm. EJ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ejesusfilm. EJ Twitter https://twitter.com/ejesusfilm. EJ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_t4tvTqhKVDjfMC19tEYog. EJ IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8666022.

Produced by John J. Thompson and Bruce A. Brown for Gyroscope Productions. Copyright 2021 Blue Tape Records.