Gene reunite with authentic line-up for London present saying: “We’re placing all our power into making this musically spectacular.”
Gene reunite to play their first gig in over 20 years on the Eventim Apollo London on 4 October 2025.
With the band’s much-loved debut album, Olympian, celebrating its thirtieth birthday this yr, Martin Rossiter (vocals), Matt James (drums), Steve Mason (guitars) and Kevin Miles (bass) determined the time was proper to share the stage collectively once more, the primary time they’ve achieved so since Gene performed a farewell present on the London Astoria in December 2004.
“God forbid I exploit the F phrase, however immediately felt like this may very well be enjoyable. It is going to be a joyous event,” declares Martin Rossiter. “I don’t assume musically we have been ever prosaic. Even for a tune that was three chords and the reality, we all the time weaved an additional melodic curiosity into all the things we did. So to play these songs once more, alongside the individuals who created them, goes to be very particular.”
Musically Spectacular
After being approached late final yr about the potential for taking part in once more as Gene by Creation Information founder Alan McGee and Toura Toura’s Kevin Fitzgerald, who co-manage the likes of Sleeper, Huey Morgan and Alabama 3, the 4 band members solely met for the primary time in December. The velocity at which issues have progressed since is testomony to the group’s enduring ardour and speedy reconnection.
“All 4 of us met up, in all probability for the primary time since our final gig, and it instantly felt similar to it had all the time been,” explains Matt James. “We have been all the time very self-deprecating as a gaggle and the banter rapidly kicked again in. After a couple of quips barked throughout the pub desk we relaxed and all of us laughed loads. Straightaway it felt like we have been a band once more. We’ve simply to verify we will do it musically now too.”
The band insisted on gathering collectively in a rehearsal room for the primary time simply days earlier than signing off on this gig announcement, demonstrating their dedication to delivering once more on the formidable reside popularity Gene loved all through their profession.
“We’re placing all our power into making this musically spectacular,” explains Rossiter. “Sure, we’re going to be incomes some moderately respectable cash, however it isn’t yachts within the Adriatic cash and the primary factor that satisfied me to do that once more was that, inside 5 minutes, the conversations between the 4 of us had reached the purpose of, ‘how can we make this good?’ In order that drive remains to be there, the dynamic was nonetheless there and so I began daydreaming about what it might be wish to waggle my – barely bigger – ass on the stage yet another time.”
Formidable Dwell Popularity
Gene fashioned in 1993 and made their debut with the one For The Useless the next yr on the indie label Costermonger, which was based particularly for the discharge by the journalists and authors Keith Cameron and Roy Wilkinson. Restricted to 1994 copies, the seven-inch offered out in two days.
The band’s debut album, Olympian, adopted on 20 March 1995 and rapidly grew to become one of many period’s finest and most appreciated data – together with singles Sleep Properly Tonight, Haunted By You and the stately title monitor – because it reached the UK High 10.
Demonstrating the depth of Gene’s creative imaginative and prescient, Olympian was adopted in 1996 by rarities and B-side assortment To The See The Lights, which grew to become a direct fan favorite, earlier than their second full album, Drawn To The Deep Finish, additionally went straight into the High 10 in 1997, boasting the hits Combating Match, We May Be Kings, The place Are They Now? and Converse To Me Somebody.
With 1999’s extra muscular Revelations ably capturing the fin de siècle uncertainty and hope within the air on the time, Gene initially ended on the artistic excessive of 2002 album Libertine which gained widespread vital acclaim.
Vital Acclaim
Reflecting the enduring reside popularity the band loved all through their profession – each for his or her exhibits and as competition favourites – Gene’s then remaining gig passed off on the London Astoria on 16 December 2004 and noticed the band exit on the peak of their powers.
Whereas Olympian’s thirtieth birthday yr provides an important sense of event for the band and followers alike, the four-piece is eager to make sure the London present might be a celebration of all the things Gene stood for. “Olympian’s anniversary is an effective cause for doing it, however we’re wanting ahead to taking part in songs from all of our profession,” says James. “It will be loads enjoyable taking part in as Gene once more.”
Tickets for the Hammersmith present will go on sale at 9am on Friday 28 March. Click on right here for full particulars.
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