Ethereal and otherworldly, Alabama homeboy and Remy Zero lead singer Cinjun Tate is a rare find in rock ΓÇÿnΓÇÖ roll. Raised by beatnik parents in an atmosphere that focused on the joy of creation, Tate finds nearly everything "beautiful, man," from the poverty-stricken origins of his once homeless band to the luminous creature that is now his wife, actress Alyssa Milano. The groupΓÇÖs latest album, Villa Elaine, is named for the seedy Hollywood hotel Remy Zero first called home upon ditching the stagnant live music scene in Birmingham, Ala. Longtime friends and self-described "freaks," the quintet hopes to maintain its creative focus while ensconced in the City Of Angels, Tate says. Having grown up on a steady musical diet of T-Rex, Brian Eno, and the Zombies, Tate says he was taught by his parents that "the supreme thing was growth and spirit." That early focus helped him ride the wave of music biz heartaches and industry ups and downs that took the band from Capitol to Geffen and finally to Interscope. "My dad painted houses and Christmas signs for a living," Tate recalls. "Sometimes we didnΓÇÖt have much to eat. So today, when I think about getting dropped by a label, I just have to say, ΓÇÿHey, IΓÇÖve been in worse situations.ΓÇÖ"
