Remy Zero Biography
Birmingham, AL-based Remy Zero dared to be moody and poetic when most American alternative rock had become overly aggressive and juvenile. Consisting of childhood friends Cinjun Tate (vocals, guitar), Cedric Lemoyne (bass), Jeffrey Cain (guitar), Shelby Tate (guitar, keyboards), and Gregory Slay (drums), Remy Zero was merely a group of schoolboys recording homemade tapes. In the mid-'90s, the band sent a demo to community radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, CA. It attracted the attention of Geffen Records, and the label eventually signed the group. In 1996, Remy Zero released its self-titled debut. The album was virtually unnoticed, but the band's 1998 follow-up, Villa Elaine, arrived with the Next Big Thing label as the group was thought of, mainly by its publicists, as a young U2 or Radiohead. The soaring "Prophecy" was a dead ringer for Radiohead, especially with its emotionally unrestrained vocals; however, many critics felt that the bandmembers were not able to reach the creative peaks of their idols on Villa Elaine. "Prophecy" landed on modern-rock radio just when the format was banishing melodic, '80s-influenced alternative pop from its airwaves in favor of rap-metal and mall-ready punk. Remy Zero simply didn't fit in. The group vanished from the scene until 2001, when it recorded The Golden Hum. First single "Save Me" -- recalling the toe-tapping anthems of the Alarm with a Radiohead makeover -- became the theme song of the TV drama Smallville later that year. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Morphine Biography: Morphine is a rarity -- bluesy, bare-bones rock & roll without any guitars. Instead of guitar riffs, the trio relies on sliding two-string basslines, raucous saxophones, and wry, ironically detached...
Lynyrd skynyrd Biography: Lynyrd Skynyrd was the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger. Skynyrd never relied on the jazzy...
Joan of arc Biography: Based on their roots and their hometown, it's not surprising that Chicago's Joan of Arc blends post-rock's atmospherics and punk's volume and dynamics. Singer/guitarist Tim Kinsella, drummer Mike...
Nuclear assault Biography: Nuclear Assault were among thrash metal's most socially aware groups, making room for serious subject matter (and occasional goofs) in their careening speed metal riffing. They also remained closer...
Heavy load Biography: Often hailed as Sweden's first heavy metal band, Heavy Load was founded in Stockholm, in 1976, by brothers Ragne (vocals/guitar) and Styrbjörn Wahlquist (drums/vocals). With bassist...
Rosana Biography: Starting as a romantic singer, Rosana also had success in the disco and MPB styles with her gospel-tinged vocal interpretations. Singing since her early teens in her father's group, Casanova's, in...
Lady saw Biography: The First Lady of Dancehall, Lady Saw is a Jamaican bad girl with loads more attitude and sex appeal than hip-hop mistresses like Lil' Kim or Foxy Brown, plus one of the most distinguishing images in...
Mindless self indulgence Biography: The New York City-based punk/industrial/hip-hop group Mindless Self Indulgence consists of singer/songwriter Little Jimmy Urine, guitarist Steve, Righ?, bassist Vanessa, and drummer Kitty. The...