Gene October (born John O’Hara; June 19, 1953) is a British punk rock singer and songwriter. Before entering the music industry, he worked as a model and was employed at the Acme Attractions store in London. In late 1976, October formed the band Chelsea after placing an advertisement in Melody Maker. The initial lineup featured guitarist Billy Idol and bassist Tony James, who departed shortly after to form Generation X. October reassembled Chelsea in early 1977 with a new roster, releasing numerous recordings over subsequent decades. As a solo artist, October released the singles “Suffering in the Land” (1983) and “Don’t Quit” (1984), followed by the album Life and Struggle (1995). His acting career included roles in the Derek Jarman films Jubilee (1978) and Caravaggio (1986). October resumed touring and recording with Chelsea in 1999, participating in the group’s 40th anniversary tour in 2016.
