Original Generation Reunites
The original generation reunited and announced its first live show in over 20 years. Read NME interview with frontman Martin Rossiter below, where he discusses what to expect from an “impressive” concert.
30th Anniversary Celebration
Rossiter, drummer Matt James, guitarist Steve Meyson, and bassist Kevin Miles will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, Olympic, with a concert at Apecollo Apollo in London on October 4.
This will be their first show since the last time they played in the now non-existent London Astoria on December 16, 2004. Tickets will go on sale at 9 a.m. GMT next Friday (March 28); you can buy your own here. You can also register for pre-sale tickets here.
Speaking with NME from a “beautiful park observing insects flying” in the capital, Rossiter explained that their reunion was prompted by former record label founder Alan McGi: “Alan looks like one of those regional stage hypnotists in Adidas (trains). You find yourself easily convinced, and I’m glad he did it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbh6jti8tfe
“It’s been 21 years since we did anything together, so for Alan and his partner in crime, Kevin (Fitzgerald), to convince us and put aside any silliness was very beneficial. He has a way with words, Mr. McGi.”
After the initial meeting, the band insisted on gathering together in the rehearsal room just a few days before the concert. “It was amazing how quickly we slipped back into this— not only musically but in terms of group dynamics; it literally hadn’t changed,” Rossiter explained. “It’s a bit like having an older sister; when I see her, I can just as easily be 13 while she’s 17, and that dynamic never changes. It’s the same with us— the same jokes, the same knowing glances.”
He continued, “But we played well. I was truly impressed with Steve, especially because those guitar lines are no easy feat. It was a challenge to bring it all together, but we plan to have a substantial rehearsal block this summer to ensure we’re firing on all cylinders.”
Noting that their debut album was released 30 years ago today (March 20), Rossiter said, “I often feel like I’m watching a detailed biographical film of my life that isn’t really me, so there’s a slightly strange sense of déjà vu about it that I’m now becoming familiar with. We all have children, and I’ve spent the last 22 years teaching people to write songs, and now I’m returning to my role as a beloved nation.”
Reflecting on their time in the 90s, which saw the release of “Engaged in a Deep End” in 1997 and “Revelations” in 1999, he added, “I have some incredibly fond memories. I witnessed someone throw Elton John a fiver, almost got into a fight with Grace Jones, and spent an hour and a half with Keith Flint discussing color names.”
While hesitant to clarify the first two incidents, the frontman reminisced about the latter moment with the late musician: “We found ourselves in the same circles as other bands like Blur and The Prodigy, especially at festivals.”
“I didn’t know Keith well, but once we stayed at the same hotel with this little garden where we began chatting and regretting we didn’t know more about botany as kids or the difference between beech and birch trees. We started inventing silly names for flowers, and it was such a light-hearted, down-to-earth experience, but it was part of what made it special.”
Regarding the upcoming concert, Rossiter promised an “epic show.”
“When we first gathered in that same room, one of the things we all agreed on was that we didn’t want to do anything half-hearted. If we’re doing this, we need to make it impressive. We haven’t hit that mark yet, but next week, we aim to make it a full-fledged event,” he said, jokingly adding, “So, I’m ordering my Spandex.”
He continued, “It won’t just be ‘Olympic,’ we’ll also throw in a few lesser-known tracks. We have a shortlist of 30 songs and I believe we’ll likely perform 25 of them, so it’ll be quite an epic show. We’ll probably be on stage for around two hours.”
He also confirmed there will likely be a “couple of warm-up shows” leading up to their London performance.
When asked about future shows after 2025, Rossiter replied, “We’ll see. We went into this not knowing how it would turn out, but I think it will go well. We’ve found that we actually enjoy being back together.”
He concluded, “We need to see how this unfolds, but we’re not saying no. I wouldn’t mind, at least, playing a few more shows in 2026.”
https://www.nme.com/news/music/gene-to-reunite-for-first-live-show-in-over-20-years-3847624?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gene-to-reunite-for-first-live-show-in-over-20-years
