If you’re walking around North London on a Tuesday night, you might spot a lad who looks like he’s just stepped out of the pages of a 1994 issue of NME. He’s got thick eyebrows, the oversized parka, and that stare that says, “Come and have a go.” That’s Gene Gallagher.
But while his dad, Liam, was busy conquering Knebworth, Gene is carving out a path that’s arguably much weirder and definitely more aggressive than your standard “nepo baby” trajectory.
Look, we’ve all seen the celebrity offspring cycle. Usually, it involves a high-fashion campaign, a “creative director” title at a startup no one’s heard of, and a curated Instagram feed that smells of expensive lavender. Gene? He’s the lad who got expelled from a posh private school (£6,459 a term, King Alfred School) and ended up in a legal scrap over a Tesco Express brawl involving Ringo Starr’s grandson. Honestly, you couldn’t script it.
As we hit early 2026, the conversation around famous kids has shifted. We’re bored of the “polished.” We’re tired of the kids who are famous for just… being there. That’s why the Gene Gallagher vs. other celebrity kids debate is actually interesting. He isn’t trying to be your friend or an influencer. He’s trying to be a nuisance, and in the world of rock and roll, that’s exactly what’s been missing.
The Vibe Check: Gene vs. The Rest
Here is a simple look at how Gene compares to other famous kids.
| Famous Kid | What they do | Their “Vibe” | The Gene Difference |
| Gene Gallagher | Rock Singer | Grungy and loud | He likes being messy and doesn’t care if you like him. |
| Ziggy Marley | Reggae Musician | Peaceful and respectful | He protects his dad’s (Bob Marley) legacy; Gene rebels against his. |
| Brooklyn Beckham | Cook/Model | Glossy and “perfect” | Gene is in a van going to gigs; Brooklyn is at fancy parties. |
| Julian Casablancas | Rock Star | Bored and “cool” | Julian looks “too cool” to care; Gene looks like he wants to start a fight. |
| Jaden Smith | Artist | Futuristic and clean | Jaden acts like he’s from the year 3000; Gene feels like he’s from 1991. |
| Lila Moss | Model | Quiet and professional | Lila is perfect for fashion; Gene is the “noise” that disrupts it. |
The Grime of the Guitar: Gene Gallagher vs. Jaden Smith
And if you look at Jaden Smith, he’s the purest “enlightened” celebrity child. Jaden is all about futuristic silhouettes, tweets that make your brain itch, and art pop with high concepts. It’s very clean. Even when it’s “weird”, it’s a curated, expensive kind of weird.
Now, compare that to Gene. While Jaden is pondering the universe, Gene is fronting his band, Villanelle, and screaming about hangovers. His debut single, “Hinge”, isn’t some experimental electronic odyssey. It’s a loud, messy slab of 90s-inspired grunge.
I caught a clip of them recently, as they were currently touring with Miles Kane throughout January and February 2026, and one could feel that the energy was just different. Jaden feels like he’s from the year 3000. Gene feels like he’s from a damp basement in 1991.
He told W Magazine that he actually had to “make his dad come around to grunge” because Liam famously hated the genre back in the day. That’s the difference: Jaden builds a new world; Gene just wants to kick the door down in this one.
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Legacy vs. Rebellion: Gene Gallagher vs. Ziggy Marley
There’s a massive amount of respect for someone like Ziggy Marley. He’s spent his entire life being the perfect custodian of his father Bob’s legacy. It’s noble. It’s consistent. But it’s also very, very safe. Ziggy is the keeper of the flame.
Gene Gallagher vs. other celebrity kids like Ziggy shows a total clash in philosophy. Gene isn’t keeping the Oasis flame; he’s trying to use it to light a cigarette while his dad watches. There’s a story doing the rounds that when Gene wanted to support Liam on tour, the old man told him straight: “If you’re sh*t, you’re not playing.”
Gene didn’t just inherit the crown; he had to prove he wouldn’t drop it. Unlike the Marley kids who stay within the “one love” lane, Gene is actively leaning into the music his dad used to slag off. It’s a playful, bratty rebellion that feels much more human than just being a “legacy act.”
Cool Insiders and Rowdy Outsiders: Gene Gallagher vs. Julian Casablancas
People often compare Gene to Julian Casablancas because, well, they both have that “rock royalty” vibe. Julian’s dad founded Elite Model Management. Julian grew up in the heart of the New York “cool” scene. But Julian has always had this detached, effortless nonchalance—like he’s too bored to even be there.
Gene doesn’t do “effortless.” He does “effort.” He’s brash, he’s loud and he often finds himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Remember that Tesco brawl a few years ago? The judge referred to him and Sonny Starkey as “entitled young men”. Yeah, maybe.
But in an era in which most famous celebrity kids live in stark terror of losing a brand deal, to see a lad get into a drunken row over his late-night gin and tonic feels authentic. It’s not that trendy; it’s just being a bit of a nightmare. Julian is the lad you want to look like; Gene is the guy you’re worried might spill a pint on you.
Brand Deals vs. Band Rehearsals: Gene Gallagher vs. Brooklyn Beckham
This is the big one. Brooklyn Beckham is the poster child for the “multi-hyphenate” who hasn’t quite found his “hyphen” yet. Photography, cooking, fashion—it’s all very glossy and very “sponsored.” It feels like a brand.
The Gene Gallagher vs. other celebrity kids dynamic here is night and day. Brooklyn is at a gala; Gene is likely in a van on the way to a gig in Glasgow or Sheffield. While Gene does model (he was just spotted at the Burberry Summer 2026 show and the Saint Laurent SS26 show), it feels like a side hustle to fund his pedalboard.
There’s a “working-class” mythos Gene tries to maintain, despite his very comfortable upbringing. It’s the Manchester DNA. While Brooklyn’s brand is about being “soft” and approachable, Gene is “hard” and moody. One wants your likes; the other doesn’t seem to care if you like him at all.
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The Silent Perfect vs. The Loud Messy: Gene Gallagher vs. Lila Moss
Lila Moss is incredible. She’s the natural evolution of Kate: silent, visually perfect, and a total industry darling. She represents the “establishment” of the nepo baby world. She’s the one you see in the front row at Paris Fashion Week looking like a statue.
Then you have Gene. He’s often in those same front rows (he was at the Paul Smith show in Milan just a few weeks ago, on January 17, 2026), but he looks like he’s itching to leave. He’s the disruption. He uses his platform to moan about the “deprivation of guitar music”. Lila is the continuity; Gene is the noise.
A Tale of Two Brothers: Gene Gallagher vs. Lennon Gallagher
Even among his own kin, Gene is extraordinary. His elder brother, Lennon, is the more “art-rock” one. Lennon’s current group, Automotion, specialises in intricate rhythms and Nirvana-style moodiness. He’s the “cool, quiet” brother.
Gene is the “Liam clone”. He’s got the sneer. He’s got the “in-your-face” energy. And while Lennon is exploring post-rock sophistication, Gene’s busting out three-chord riffs that would make you want to jump around. In the 2026 landscape, Lennon is the artist, but Gene is the lead singer. He’s the one who will keep the tabloids in business for 10 years.
FAQs
Is Gene Gallagher actually in a band?
Yes, he’s the frontman of a band called Villanelle. They play a gritty, grunge-heavy style of rock. Check out their debut single, “Hinge.”
Did Gene Gallagher really get in a fight at Tesco?
Yeah, it’s kind of a legend now. In 2019, he, Sonny Starkey and Noah Ponte were involved in a “fracas” at a Hampstead Tesco over a can of gin and tonic. The matter went to court, but the charges ultimately were dropped when it emerged that a staff member might have been the aggressor.
Is Gene Gallagher touring in 2026?
He’s currently on the road! Villanelle is currently on tour supporting Miles Kane at venues across the UK this January and February 2026, including two shows at London’s Roundhouse and Manchester’s Albert Hall.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, what sets Gene apart isn’t that he’s more talented or less privileged than any of the other celebrity kids. He’s prepared to go ‘un-manicured’, and that makes him different. In an era of careful posturing and PR manoeuvres, Gene feels like a glitch in the system.
He’s a reminder that, now and then, the most interesting thing a famous kid can do is stop trying to be “perfect” and just start being a bit of a loudmouth. Anyway, you either like the Gallagher attitude or you don’t, and even if it gets wearying over time, you must admit it’s interesting.
Do you believe the nepo baby era has finally ended, or is Gene only the start of a louder, messier version of it?
