Pulp

The Pulp story is so tumultuous that it’s a surprise they survived to become the highly esteemed band that they are today. Jarvis Cocker formed Pulp way back in 1978 in Sheffieldat the measly age of 15. Originally called Arabicus Pulp and consisting of a group of Cocker’s school friends, the group changed their name to just ‘Pulp’ in 1979. Whilst still in school in 1980, the band sent a demo to the late-great John Peel who loved what he heard and invited the band to play a session for his radio show in 1981. Despite this exposure, the band failed to get a record deal and pop stardom eluded them. Disheartened, in 1982 the band members went their separate ways.

Thankfully, Jarvis decided to reform the band a year later and brought in eight new members. With this line-up, the band secured a record deal and released their debut album ‘It’ in 1984. The album was a commercial disaster and the disappointment caused the band to disband again. A stubborn little bugger, Cocker formed another version of the band again with guitarist and violinist Russell Senior – drummer Magnus Doyle, bassist Peter Mansell, poetry reader(!) Tim Allcard and keyboardist Candida Doyle were all added by 1985. The band released a series of singles on Fire Records that year, but unfortunately just as they were on the brink of bigger things Jarvis fell out of a 30ft window and seriously damaged his pelvis, wrist and foot.

Fortunately, Cocker recovered and the band released their second full-length, ‘Freaks’ in 1986. A sombre affair, the album was critically heralded but again ignored by the public. Again…. all members of the band except Jarvis, Candida Doyle and Senior left in 1987.  A few bassists were drafted in before the band settled for Steve Mackey. The band relocated to London, with the third album, 1989’s ‘Separations’, reflecting Jarvis’ new found love for acid house.

Over the next three year Pulp changed labels twice before landing a deal with Island. It was here that they released ‘His N Hers’ which turned heads in the music industry and was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Jarvis Cocker’s new found fame elevated him into the status of a geeky cult-celebrity perfectly juxtaposed the likes of Oasis and Blur. Nationwide notoriety was confirmed with the release of the seminal ‘Common People’ in May 1995. The single reached number two in the charts and suddenly Pulp were a household name. This was followed by the Cheeky ‘Sorted For E’s and Wizz’ which as you’d expect was heavily criticised by the red tops. In October, the defining album ‘Different Class’ was released – a humorous critique on mid-nineties packed with killer pop tunes.

Rather than re-hash ‘Different Class’, Pulp changed direction and released the sprawling ‘This Is Hardcore’ in 1998. Not as immediate and catchy as its predecessor, the album did not sell as well but was equally rewarding and brilliant given time. Three years later, loosely based around a natural theme, ‘We Love Life’ was released. Although a great album and loved by their hardcore fans, Pulp were still unable to emulate the rip-roaring success of Different Class.