Nineties UK Rock Band Gene to Make First US Live Appearances in Nearly a Quarter Century This Winter

photo: Jim Mitcham

Since I interviewed the band during its heyday, I'm hoping to catch the SoCal appearance...

Veteran Britpop band Gene will do its first North American shows in 24 years, after reuniting last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Olympian.

Original members Martin Rossiter (vocals), Matt James (drums), Steve Mason (guitars) and Kevin Miles (bass) shared the stage together again for the first time since a farewell show in London in 2004.

After a run of sold-out UK shows earlier this year, and the release of the live album, ‘Apollo’, recorded at the band’s return in London last October, Gene will play select dates in North America this November, which include the Darker Waves festival on November 14. Ensuring what will be a very welcome return to these shores after an absence of over two decades, Martin Rossiter says, “In this increasingly bleak world, come and throw your arms in the air, and your legs if you must, for an evening of vim and vigour.”

After being approached at the end of 2024 about the possibility of playing again as Gene by Creation Records founder Alan McGee and Toura Toura’s Kevin Fitzgerald, the four band members met for the first time in many years, and the speed at which things have progressed since is testament to the group’s enduring passion and immediate reconnection.

“All four of us met up, probably for the first time since our last gig (in 2004), and it immediately felt just like it had always been,” explains Matt James. “We were always very self-depreciating as a group and the banter quickly kicked back in. After a few quips barked across the pub table we relaxed and we all laughed a lot. Straightaway it felt like we were a band again.”
“We all put our energy into making this musically spectacular,” explains Martin. “Within five minutes, the conversations between the four of us had reached the point of, 'how do we make this brilliant?' So that drive is still there, the dynamic was still there and so I started daydreaming about what it would be like to waggle my – slightly larger – ass on the stage one more time.”

Gene formed in 1993 and made their debut with the single For The Dead the following year on the indie label Costermonger, which was founded especially for the release by the journalists and authors Keith Cameron and Roy Wilkinson. Limited to 1,994 copies, the seven-inch sold out in two days.

The band’s debut album, Olympian, arrived in 1995, with singles Sleep Well Tonight, Haunted By You, and the title track – and would reach the UK Top 10. Olympian was followed in 1996 by rarities and b-side collection To See The Lights, before second full album, Drawn To The Deep End, also went straight into the UK Top 10 in 1997, with hits Fighting Fit, We Could Be Kings, Where Are They Now? and Speak To Me Someone. 1999’s Revelations and 2002's Libertine came next. 

Reflecting the live reputation the band enjoyed throughout their career – both for their shows and as festival favorites – Gene’s then final gig took place at the London Astoria on December 16th, 2004.

In their absence, Gene’s influence has still been keenly felt, not only earning continued plays on UK radio stations including BBC 6 Music and Absolute, while enjoying growing streaming numbers, but the group’s entire back catalogue was re-pressed on vinyl in 2020, alongside the release of new best of collection, Yours For The Taking. 

While Olympian’s 30th birthday year added a great sense of occasion for the band and fans alike, the four-piece was keen to ensure the London show (and all future shows) was a celebration of everything Gene stood for. “Olympian’s anniversary was a good reason for doing it, but we looked forward to playing songs from all of our career,” says Matt. “It’s a lot of fun playing as Gene again.”

In celebration of the band’s return, a live album, ‘Apollo’, has just been released. More than 5,000 fans packed the sold-out Hammersmith Apollo in London last October.

The LP showcases some of the band’s best-known songs — including Olympian, We Could Be Kings, Speak to Me Someone, Fighting Fit, and For the Dead — alongside deeper cuts, B-sides, and rarities specially rehearsed for the show. 

Track listing:

1. London, Can You Wait?
2. Be My Light, Be My Guide
3. We Could Be Kings
4. Where Are They Now?
5. Truth Rest Your Head
6. Your Love It Lies
7. Longsleeves For The Summer
8. Sleep Well Tonight
9. Save Me I’m Yours
10. O Lover
11. Speak To Me Someone
12. A Car That Sped
13. Walking In The Shallows
14. Haunted By You
15. Olympian
16. For The Dead
17. Sick, Sober & Sorry
18. Fighting Fit
19. I Can’t Help Myself
20. Who Said This Was The End?

Live shows:

Jun 26 - Southampton, UK - The Brook
Jun 27 - Newport, UK - Corn Exchange
Jun 28 - Lancaster, UK - Kanteena
Sep 25 - Valencia, ES - Visorfest
Oct 9 - London, UK - The Roundhouse
Oct 10 - London, UK - The Roundhouse
Nov 12 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Nov 14 - Huntingdon Beach, CA - Darker Waves Festival
Nov 16 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
Nov 17 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
Nov 19 - Washington, D.C - Howard Theatre
Nov 20 - New York, NY - Sony Hall

Tickets available from all venues and www.geneofficial.com