Much of the appeal of this band comes from their most visble member, Mike Roe - his distinctive voice, his distinctive guitar playing, his humor, and certainly his attitude. Even in the group's earliest days, before even the wild hair, Roe's persona, his stage presence was a big part of what set this group apart from the rest. Street-wise, wise-ass, intelligent, and yet intensely sensitive and emotional, Roe gives this group an intriguing (if not totally unique) personality.

...which leads many people (both fans and critics) to think of The 77's as the Mike Roe Band - a misguided notion at best. Though he is the only person who has been with the group from the very beginning, the group has always functioned as a group project, be it songwriting, arrangements, or group leadership. It would be fair to say that in terms of songwriting prowess, Roe reached a state of competency faster than the other original members.

He tends to play guitar like a man possessed (the lick-induced facial expressions are great). And few recordings have truly represented his mastery of the instrument.