Gene will forever be haunted by comparisons to the Smiths, especially since… Read Full Bio ↴Gene will forever be haunted by comparisons to the Smiths, especially since lead singer Martin Rossiter favors the same strangled croon and tortured loneliness of Morrissey. Nevertheless, under the direction of guitarist Steve Mason, Gene developed a tougher sound than the Smiths, drawing not only from the fey tradition of British indie-pop, but also from the three-chord raunch of the Faces, the working-class punk of the Jam and the soulful stomp of Motown. Most critic s didn't hear such subtle differences, and opinions on the group's worth were fiercely divided upon the release of the group's first single in 1994, with the band earning as many detractors as supporters. Amidst such divided reaction, Gene developed a devoted following which helped them become one of the leading artists of the Britpop second tier in 1995, even if the band had trouble breaking into the States.

The roots of Gene lay in a band called Spin, which featured guitarist Steve Mason and drummer Matt James. Spin disbanded after their career was sidetracked by their bassist's injury in a car crash, yet Mason and James continued playing together, recruiting bassist Kevin Miles through a mutual friend. The trio eventually met Welsh native Martin Rossiter, and the quartet formed Gene in 1993. Over the course of the next few months, the band wrote a batch of songs and had performed a number of concerts by the end of the year. A pair of music journalists, Keith Cameron and Roy Wilkinson, formed the Costermonger label in order to release Gene's debut single, "For the Dead," in April 1994. Nearly every copy of the limited-edition release sold out within the first week, and Gene soon became favorites of the British music weeklies. That July, "Be My Light, Be My Guide" became a number one hit on the indie charts, and Gene had emerged as one of the leading new bands of the burgeoning Britpop movement. Major-label interest beckoned, and the group signed with Polydor, who subsidized Costermonger in the U.K. An acclaimed third single, "Sleep Well Tonight," followed in September, and in January of 1995, Gene was named Best New Act at NME's Brat Awards.

Until the release of the group's debut album, Olympian, in the spring of 1995, Gene had continued to build momentum, partially because Martin Rossiter had adopted Morrissey's technique of giving articulate, outrageous and witty interviews. Olympian, however, was greeted with mixed reviews, and although the group had a sizable fan base -- the album debuted in the Top Ten -- they were soon overshadowed by the legions of groups that popped up in the wake of Blur and Oasis' success. Even so, "Haunted by You" and "Olympian" both became Top 20 hits. Early in 1996, To See the Lights, a collection of B-sides and BBC sessions, was released in England. For the remainder of the year, Gene was quiet, preparing their second album, Drawn to the Deep End. "Fighting Fit" was released as a teaser in the fall and became a Top Ten hit, but Drawn to the Deep End didn't follow through on its success. Although it debuted in the Top Ten upon its release in early 1997, it was greeted with decidedly mixed reviews and quickly fell down the charts, although the group's core audience remained loyal. By the new millennium, the band was without a label. They founded Contra and issued the live set Rising for Sunset: Live at the Troubadour in 2000. The album went almost unnoticed among the indie scene, however a true comeback loomed ahead. In mid-summer 2002, Gene emerged with Libertine, their strongest material since Olympian. A late summer/early fall trek across America coincided with the release.

Bibiography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

There is another artist ith the same name:

2) GENE (جين) a Syrian neoprogressive rock band, one of the best acts in the Syrian rock scene, they started under the name ZODIAC playing progressive rock songs for bands such as ( Karmakanic ) later on they changed their name to GENE and decide to use Arabic lyrics with the progressive music creating a very unique style of their own, proving again how flexible Arabic language can be.

They are:
Maen rajab: Guitars
Omar harb: Bass guitar (The Hourglass - Anas & Friends)
Shadi Ali: Vocals (Guest in Anas & Friends)
Sahel Zen Eldien: Drums
Hazem Al-Ani: Piano & Keyboards
Anas Abd al-Moumen: Guitars (Anas & Friends)

GENE released their debut self-titled album in August 2008 .

Fighting Fit
Gene Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I need you
I'm waiting and I'm alone
I wanted to be so bold
But good words are never easy
I am still young
My blood flowing like a flood
Come and take every single bone
I will give as good as I get

I can't take it
To much time's been wasted
So come and get my plateful
I am fighting fit and able
I can't take it
When you slide and twist it hurts me
So settle down and let me
I've tasted life
I'm ready

I need you
Your shoulders act as my strength
Your skin is my only friend
I seek cover in all your glories
I am tarnished
I know I have many flaws

But our love it will shatter all
Take me on and we will conquer

Overall Meaning

In Gene's song "Fighting Fit," the lyrics reflect an artist who is waiting impatiently for someone they need. The artist is so desperate for the company of this person that they desire them to take all their bones, and they promise to give as good as they get. The artist expresses how time has already been wasted, and they want the person to come and get their plate full. The artist claims to be fighting fit and able, but when the person slides and twists, it hurts them. The artist urges the person to settle down and let them handle it. The artist knows they have flaws, but they believe that their love can overcome all.

The lyrics of "Fighting Fit" suggest that the artist is going through some emotional turmoil, and they're relying on this person for the strength to overcome it. The artist is informed about their weaknesses but accepts them, and they feel that it wouldn't change the situation between them and their desired companion. The artist seeks solace from their partner's physical presence, and they derive companionship in their skin. The artist is willing to conquer all the obstacles on the path of their love as they believe that their love can shatter all the barriers.

Line by Line Meaning

I need you
I rely on you a lot

I'm waiting and I'm alone
I am idling, and I have no one

I wanted to be so bold
I wanted to be daring

But good words are never easy
Expressing myself eloquently is too difficult

I am still young
I am inexperienced in life

My blood flowing like a flood
I have a lot of energy

Come and take every single bone
Fight me until I'm beaten to the ground

I will give as good as I get
I will fight back as much as you give it to me

I can't take it
I cannot stand this situation any longer

To much time's been wasted
Too much time has been lost

So come and get my plateful
It's time for me to take action