GENE: The Italian Connection

With a spanking new album re-instating them to the charts, a brill new single 'Speak to me Someone' released and a series of stunning live performances rounding off their most successful year to date, Elena D'Amato talked to band leader Martin Rossiter in Italy at the tail-end of their European tour, refreshed and ready to take on America and, er, The Houses of Parliament...

Since the last time you played live here, when you were still quite unknown, how do you feel tonight's show will be received?
I've learned over the years not to expect anything. I remember we played in Stockholm about two or three years ago, there were only about four or five hundred there and it was a really good atmosphere, the records weren't in the charts and we were still quite obscure. The next time we played there, to three or four thousand people, it was like a timed disaster, so you learn almost to expect the worst - its a Lottery thing!

What was it like playing in the Albert Hall?
It was brilliant, I remember everything like it was in slow motion. It's very odd playing in a place with so much history behind it, I remember when we booked it and I called up my mum to tell her, she was really proud. But I'm actually the fourth in my family to play there, so it was strange in a way also.

Where else would you like to perform?
Outside the Houses of Parliament on Welsh Independence Day! Actually, I don't think I'd be brave enough...give me enough alcohol and I'll see what happens!

So how has the tour been going?
To be honest, this tour is the best, most relaxed we've done. I used to not like it much, for some reason, but as I get older it becomes a lot more easier to do. Its been quite relaxed so far, and the weather's good, which might sound glib, but there's nothing worse than getting off a plane in Rotterdam to find its pissing down.

Do you get homesick?
Yeah...I do, but its really...you understand that it happens, it comes with the trade. I mean I've been doing this for long enough I've learned how to deal with it.

Where do you like touring the most?
Europe, Japan, Hong Kong ...just to taste those different cultures is quite exciting. When I have a day free I try to see things...for instance I'd rather go to a local bar than a...cathedral.

What about America...how do you think they'll receive you now that britpop's broken there?
We're going there for a month next week...I don't view the States as different from anywhere else, except that its larger. In Britain there's this really revolting inverted snobbery about America, like anacceptable form of racism. I think that attitude is shit, because in myview America is a really wonderful country. I mean most Brits think that American's are fat, white tourists with cameras, which is...not true!

Do you perceive yourselves as English?
No way! Absolutely not! People always presume because we talk with an accent that isn't Mancunian that we're Southern English, which is a pain in the arse.

So, have you any plans to write on this tour?
We always write new material on tour, its important to keep creating, to not just go around knocking out the same fifteen or so songs for three months. We've been busily writing away, a couple of new songs that might be on a single, and stuff we do live.

What do you think the new album will be like?
I don't know! We never ever think that way, mainly because we put so much effort into one thing at a time. It would be totally stupid to just tour about waiting for things to be finished so we can piss off back into the studio again! But, I do have a few ideas that I'm not telling you about...so, sorry!

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