'90s Rock Band, Once Split for Two Decades, Announces First North America Tour in 24 Years
More than two decades after breaking up, Gene is officially returning to North America.
The beloved Britpop band has announced its first North American tour in 24 years, marking a major milestone in the group's unlikely comeback after reuniting in 2025 following more than two decades apart.
The short 2026 run begins Nov. 12 in San Francisco and includes stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and New York City before wrapping up Nov. 20 at Sony Hall in Manhattan.
The tour will also include an appearance at California's Darker Waves Festival, where the band had previously been announced as part of the lineup.
Formed in England during the height of the 1990s Britpop explosion, Gene became known for emotionally charged songs, dramatic vocals and melodic guitar-driven rock often compared to bands like The Smiths and Oasis.
Led by singer Martin Rossiter, the band developed a devoted following thanks to albums like Olympian, which has since become regarded as one of the defining Britpop releases of the era.
"I think that pop has always had it's strengths to create the times and reflect the times, and history had proved that," Rossiter said in a 1995 interview. "Pop music is by far the most potent, or possibly the most potent, potentially the most potent art form there has ever been."
Despite strong critical acclaim and loyal fans, the band officially split in 2004, ending what had been one of the more emotionally expressive and literate acts of the Britpop movement. For years, a reunion seemed unlikely.
That changed when Gene unexpectedly reunited in 2025 and began performing together again, reigniting excitement among longtime fans who never expected to see the band return to the stage.
"It was astonishing how quickly we slipped into [it] – not just musically, it's an uncut diamond at this point – but the dynamics of the band literally hadn't changed," Rossiter told NME. "It's a bit like I've got an older sister and when I see her, I might as well be 13 and she's 17, and that dynamic will never change. It's the same with us, the same funny gags, the same knowing winks and nods."
Now, with their first North American run in nearly a quarter-century officially set, the reunion has evolved into something far bigger than a one-off comeback.
For many Britpop fans, Gene's return represents a rare second chance to see one of the era's most beloved under-appreciated bands live once again.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 5:36 PM.