It always felt to me that Gene were a cut above many of the bands they were lumped-in with in the mid 90s. They came to prominence as Britpop was being talked up as a thing, but I’ve personally regarded them as being part of that genre of acts, and I reckon there was more than enough talent in the band, as songwriters and performers, to have made it no matter the era.
It’s interesting to look back and see that while they achieved a great deal of critical acclaim, and attracted a fan base that was and remains incredibly devoted (as can be measured by the response to the 2026 comeback tour), they only ever enjoyed marginal success in the UK singles chart. Excluding the limited edition debut of which just 1,994 copies were pressed on 7″ vinyl, there would be eleven singles, ten of which did go Top 40, but their highest placing was just #14, which happened to be the 1996 re-release of For The Dead, the limited edition debut.
Their first brush with chart success came in November 1994, with this, their third single, reaching #34.
mp3: Gene – Sleep Well Tonight
mp3: Gene – Sick, Sober and Sorry
mp3: Gene – Her Fifteen Years
A trio of top-quality songs, all offering up something different to enjoy and appreciate. And I think they’ve aged well.
Gene were not Britpop. How do I know this? I wouldn’t have bought their records if they had been part of that misogynistic gaggle. Even from Gene’s own mouth when they began to promote their 2026 gigs (in late 2025) claiming to be Britpop. No. No. No. Being around at the same time as a musical ‘movement’ doesn’t by definition make you part of that movement. It may get you bums on seats at gigs but I’d suggest the wrong bums – i.e. people looking for an Oasis sound-a-likely. Gene did not and do not fit this bill.
When Gene made their Britpop statement I could have screamed.
Gene, like The Sundays, were post The Smiths and contemporaries with its now solo singer. They each had their own unique sound. They each made people like me giddy at the knees to be hearing (at last) a certain sophistication in modern pop music.
This article has reminded me just how protective I am of Gene. even if Gene isn’t.
Sleep Well Tonight and the supporting tracks have aged remarkably well and are still played regularly around these parts.
I recall the rush around record shops on a Monday morning to get my hands on a limited edition singles/records only to be repeatedly told “sold out”. Scotland was at the arse-end of distribution and would almost always be left wanting when it came to limited editions. Thankfully, I did get my grubby mitts on this but missed out on some others. Pah!
Shitpop. Can we bury it forever?
Sick, Sober and sorry is possibly my second favourite Gene song (after For the Dead). Underrated I feel, including by me at the time – I didnt explore them till the 2010s.
I was lucky enough to go to their comeback gig at the Brudenell, and it was great (first time I have seen them).
Went to their comeback show at the Hammersmith Apollo, and then again at Bristol, and am going again to the Roundhouse in October.
What a band, still. A cut above their contemporaries.
Loved Olympian, saw them live a few times in the 90s when they were always pretty impressive, although I found a few of the songs could be a touch mawkish and histrionic. Later albums were patchy but all featured some stunning tracks. Looking forward to seeing them in the autumn.
chaval