Gene rose from the ash's of a band known as Sp!n. Sp!n formed in 1989 after Matt James, Lee Clarke, Steve & John Mason name changed their then current band The Go Hole, whom which had one release in 1987 titled Flight Of Angels. Although together for four years, Sp!n only had one full length release, In-Motion from 1991. Three singles also added to the list: Scratches from 1990, Let's Pretend & Hot Blood from 1991. In March of '91 there was a road accident involving the band and John was seriously injured. Fate then had it that a certain Kevin Miles would step in on bass at this point in time. Drama #2 was the departure of lead vocalist and guitarist Lee. Fear not for this provided the entrance of our beloved Martin Rossiter to take up the front man vacancy. The final release, Hot Blood, was in fact the Gene line-up that would last all he way up to the bands split in 2004. Cue another name change, Gene were born.
In 1994, the boys signed to small independent label Costermonger and released the double A side For The Dead on limited 7". The release became the NME and SELECT single of the week and the follow-up Be My Light, Be My Guide reached the #1 spot in the UK Indie Charts. 1995 saw the debut album release, Olympian. More awards and praise followed, along with being voted one of the best records of '95, and NME's band of the year. Three more singles wrapped up '95.
To See The Lights acted as Gene's second long-player. A B-Side/Live compilation including all the flip-sides from the previous years singles along with radio/festival performances. The band also re-released a new version of debut single For The Dead.
Along with an ever-growing fanbase, Gene's third release Drawn To The Deep End was made even more triumphant when Polydor took Gene under their bulging wing. Three top 30 singles followed, as well as the bands two previous albums for Costermonger being re-released on the Polydor label. The remainder of '96 and most of '97 saw the band touring and performing at various festivals, the biggest headlining gig being the Royal Albert Hall. 1998 was time to re-group and gather new material for that tricky third studio album.
Gene gave birth to Revelations in '99 and while musically it was the same classic Gene sound, the lyrics had taken on a more politcal view. The album yealded two singles which made the UK top 40 Charts. This would be the first and last studio album Gene would release in a short lived affair with Polydor.
Forward to late 2000. Gene were back with a new live record and a new label. Rising For Sunset was released on the bands own label Contra, and provided a perfect insight into just how great the band performed live. Spirits were high, and the band went back into the studio to make the masterpiece that would become Libertine.
In the middle of 2001, Polydor released a Best Of package: As Good As It Gets. The band had no input into this and it was a last throw from Polydor to make a bit of cash. They even spelt Rossiter wrong on the inlay. Very impressive.... :-)