Pulp (band)

Pulp is a group created in Sheffield, England, at the end of the 70s, although their first album was released in 1983. The group's charismatic leader, Jarvis Cocker, stands out, one of the banners of Britpop. Cocker's skill in composing lyrics grew and he gained his greatest recognition in the mid-90s with albums like His 'n' Hers or Different Class.

Pulp also opted for a very well-kept uniform group aesthetic since they have been influenced by groups like Roxy Music or singers like David Bowie.

History

Pulp was formed by Jarvis Cocker with school friends in the late 70s, when he was only 14 years old. Initially the group was called Arabicus Pulp. They started with somewhat experimental albums that did not have much impact, but from a young age they were taking turns performing at numerous concerts they gave in England.

Starting in 1992, Pulp changed record labels, signing with the Island Records label. Leaving behind four albums that reflected his progress, they published in 1994 His de él & # 39; n & # 39; Hers, an album with greater international reception and which reflected how a musical group among friends from Yorkshire learned enough to compose an album praised by critics.

"I never intended to be a litrist, although I had wanted to be a pop star for about eight years."

Jarvis Cocker (Diario El País, 2016) [1]

Without a doubt, the peak of Pulp's popularity came with the 1995 release of Different Class, for many, Pulp's best album. The best-known singles from this album are Common People. Disco 2000 and Something Changed. In a vote carried out in 2014 by BBC Radio, in which more than 30,000 people participated, Common People was classified as the most representative song of Britpop.

"The first album I made with Pulp Different Class It's a different kind. It's definitely one of the best albums I've ever made. I'm very happy with him. The songs are fantastic. Jarvis is a great writer. And they've been waiting for this success for a long time. In England more than a million albums were sold, which is really a lot. Then they went to the road for a year, and they encountered the difficulties. "

Chris Thomas, Pulp Producer (La Zancadilla, 2016) [2]

Jarvis Cocker's group won Brits awards throughout this good period. Many will only know this singer for being the "intruder" who appeared showing her butt to Michael Jackson in the middle of his performance, also at the Brits Awards.

"The nineties were quite strange. 1996 was the worst year of my life. I really don't mean it metaphorically. Personally, it was my worst year. As a boy I thought fame was like that scene Saturday night In which Travolta enters the club and everyone admires him. It's actually pretty desolating. I'm trying not to think about it. But in my fame case it meant that a drunk in a bar told you, 'Hey, man, how about Michael Jackson?' "

Jarvis Cocker (Diario El País, 2016) [3]

In 1998 they released This Is Hardcore, for many the most "dark" from Pulp. Its sales did not equal Different Class, but it was well appreciated by critics. Songs that stand out from this album are: Help the Aged and This Is Hardcore.

Jarvis was hard to write the last album. This Is Hardcore, something that lasted for about 18 months. "

Chris Thomas, Pulp Producer (La Zancadilla, 2016) [4]

Pulp's last album, We Love Life, was released in 2001. Due to the low sales of this album, their record company terminated their contract after the publication of a greatest hits in 2002. in CD and DVD format. Since then Jarvis Cocker, in addition to his solo career, experimented with the electronic music group Relaxed Muscle and participated, at the request of the actors, in the film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire composing and performing three songs from the soundtrack and appearing in a short sequence.

"It is easy to see that it is a mature album and suggests a studied self-consciousness and the discovery of security. This is a ripening in a different sense: Cocker has lived dark times, as was evident in This Is Hardcoreand still sees difficulties in the present and with the past (the disturbing central piece of Wickerman), but here embraces life, even finding its place in the great scheme of things. "

Thomas Erlewine (AllMusic) [5]

In October 2009, Jarvis Cocker gave an interview to NME from which it was deduced that Pulp could reunite to be part of the line-up at the Glastonbury Festival in 2010. However, Jarvis Cocker categorically denied that there were any plans, arguing an incorrect interpretation of his statements.

In 2012, the entire Pulp reunited again to give a concert tour and performances at festivals such as Primavera Sound (Barcelona), Coachella or Glastonbury. After twenty performances with excellent reception, they disappeared again without closing the door on future projects.

"I don't know if it's a definitive closure. Pulp has always worked the same way. We do what we feel. All the band members are friends. And also, and this is important, we all keep alive. It's not like other bands, who hate each other, they're together for money and they travel in different cars. We were very happy to come back. It was a good thing, not a sad thing. And I don't know if we'll do it again. We'll have to see him. It'll happen if we feel right. "

Jarvis Cocker (Diario El País, 2016) [6]

Discography

Studio albums

• 1983 - It
• 1987 - Freaks
• 1992 - Separations
• 1994 - His 'n' Hers (#9 United Kingdom)
• 1995 - Different Class (#1 United Kingdom)
• 1998 - This Is Hardcore (#1 United Kingdom, #114 United States)
• 2001 - We Love Life (#6 United Kingdom)

Compilations

• 1993 - Intro
• 1994 - Masters of the Universe
• 1996 - Countdown 1992-1983 (#10 United Kingdom)
• 1998 - Pulp Goes to the Disco
• 1998 - Freshly Squeezed... the Early Years
• 1998 - Primal... The Best of the Fire Years 1983-1992
• 1999 - Pulped: 1983-1992
• 1999 - Pulp On Fire
• 2002 - Hits (#71 United Kingdom)
• 2006 - The Peel Sessions

Videography

• 1995 - Sorted for Films & Vids
• 1996 - F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.E.D.L.I.V.E
• 1998 - The Park Is Mine
• 2002 - Hits
• 2005 - Ultimate Live

Band Members

Timeline