Gene were formed in London in 1993 by singer Martin Rossiter, guitarist Steve Mason, bassist Kevin Miles and drummer Matt James. Inspired by the songs of The Faces & The Smiths, Rossiter’s literate vocals and Mason’s fluid guitar lines were perfectly complemented by the intuitive rhythm section of Miles and James. They released four studio albums and went on to score 10 Top 40 hits. Their debut album ‘Olympian’ was originally released in 1995 and reached number eight in the UK album charts. The album went silver with the title track later released as a single, also charting in the top 20 UK Singles charts. They followed up with ‘To See The Lights’ an LP of rarities, live tracks. Released on Polydor in 1996 the album went top 20 in the charts. ‘Drawn To The Deep End’ (1997) was their second studio album, taking its name from B-Side 'Fighting Fit’. The album was lavishly produced: filled with strings, guitar solos from Steve Mason and Martin Rossiter’s writings of loneliness It included 'Where Are They Now?' and 'Speak to me Someone'. Moving into new political and heavier rock territory ‘Revelations’ The album included 'As Good As it Gets', 'The British Disease' ‘Libertine’ was subsequently released on their own label Sub Rosa in 2001. The album sees them weaving between past attitudes reminiscent of early Gene and seamlessly moving into new territory. With the addition of it being a self release ‘Libertine’ carried with it an artistic freedom for the band.