www.rememberrome.com

So begins the song “Forevertown,” by Remember Rome,™ a Christian acoustic ensemble traveling the familiar path from Rome to Chicago, and back again. Like much of Remember Rome’s music, the song “Forevertown” pays tribute to the Eternal City, and especially to its martyrs who gave their lives to leave all of us a legacy of faith.

Together since 1995, the members of the band have played their music all over the world, coming together and bringing their collective experiences to the songs. They chose the name “Remember Rome” as a way to keep alive the memory of those early Christians who died there, and pay tribute to the church that conquered an empire.

Remember Rome's music defies neat labels. The acoustic guitar is central, at times sounding like a percussion instrument, a kind of snare drum wanna-be; and at other times sparkling like the pull tab from an old aluminum can at the bottom of a clear mountain stream. Add to that some deeply meaningful lyrics, creative vocal harmonies, and an everything-but-the kitchen-sink percussion octopus, and you have something that’s more than the sum of the parts. The unique organic sound is the kind of music you listen to when you want to feel connected to the cause and effect of human history; when you want to travel through time without getting out from under your headphones; when you want to actually hear all the strings on the guitar and be moved by the power of the real acoustic instruments. It’s like an acoustic travelogue through the history of human experience. Remember Rome is definitely not for those who like their music to go in one ear and out the other without stopping in between. This is music for people who think, and who want lyrics that mean something - who want some meat on the bones of rhythm.

Remember Rome is no garage band - born in the university and raised on a healthy diet of graduate school, this group moves comfortably from the city cafés to the world of international academia. Founder and principal songwriter Jim Papandrea holds a Ph.D. in Early Christianity and New Testament Interpretation from Northwestern University and is an adjunct faculty member of Elmhurst College , Garrett Evangelical Seminary and Loyola University's Institute of Pastoral Studies - and other members of the group have also paid their dues in the libraries of the world and earned advanced degrees as well. A prizewinner of songwriting and talent competitions, Remember Rome’s goal is to continue traveling and playing their unique music, glorifying God and witnessing to Christ in the world.

In 1998, Remember Rome released its first, self-titled CD. The disc featured 16 songs, including two that were later included on internationally released compilations. Songs from this CD received radio airplay from the U.S. to Hong Kong, with one song charting in Germany. The highlight of 1999 was traveling together to Rome itself to perform their music in the city that continues to inspire it. Performing was not all that happened on that trip to Rome; Remember Rome frontman Jim Papandrea eloped with his wife Susie on that trip! To see pictures from the 1999 tour, click here.

In 2001, Remember Rome released its second CD, “La Bocca della Veritá,” which is Italian for “The Mouth of Truth.” The image on the cover is a relic with the same name that now stands in the courtyard of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, in Rome. It’s really an ancient sewer cover with an image of a water god, but legend has it that if you stick your hand in the mouth, and proclaim your love to your significant other, and if your love is untrue, old Poseidon will bite your hand off. Needless to say, Jim retains all his fingers, which of course, he needs to play the guitar.

In recent years, Remember Rome has moved from bars and coffee houses to larger venues. The band has also gone from a “crossover” act, trying to be all things to all people, to an intentional Christian ministry. Remember Rome has played concerts, outdoor festivals, and on various cable television networks. In 2003, Remember Rome released a "Best of..." CD called "Holy Smoke." With their latest CD, “Carpe Diem,” Remember Rome brings its spiritual message to the forefront. The 2004 release features some of the songs that have become familiar to Remember Rome’s fans in the last couple of years, as well as some new surprises. There’s a bit of the old Remember Rome sarcasm, and even a little Latin, for old time’s sake. Remember Rome’s CDs, including the 2004 release “Carpe Diem,” are available at CDBaby.com, as well as at all Remember Rome performances.

Remember Rome is always looking for new venues in which to perform. Interested churches or other venues should contact Jim Papandrea.