Gene: "Why we split"

published 17 November

Martin Rossiter has revealed exclusively to 6 Music why Gene have decided to quit, despite still regularly selling out gigs around the world.

Sales of the group's records have declined sharply, in contrast to their continuing success as a live band. Rossiter described the response to their final album, Libertine, as "beyond underwhelming ... it just didn't sell", but said that he remains immensely proud of the record, which he believes to be the best of their entire career.

"I wanted to avoid the situation of Gene shows becoming purely nostalgic events."
Martin Rossiter

He said: "I didn't want to undervalue those songs by doing a tour every six months and going 'here we are again, playing the same old songs. Sorry guys. We've got a new one but none of you want to hear it.'"

He added that he was determined not to end up as a rock fossil, touring the same few hits for eternity: "I remember saying in interview that I had a Mick Jagger alarm fitted in my head.

"I always said that when it began to ring, I'd call it a day and it was just starting to rumble very gently. I wanted to avoid the situation of Gene shows becoming purely nostalgic events."

Finally, he thanked the band's famously loyal fans: "I mean the support has really been unswerving and verging on the insane at times, which I'm humbled and flattered by.

"But it was a case of the National Association Of Babysitters were having small parties whenever we toured to celebrate the growth of their industry - 'Ooh, Gene are on tour, fantastic, babysitters of the world rejoice.'"

Gene's last gig will be at the Astoria in London on 16 December.


Andrew Purcell