Pulp

...nia" movement of the 1990s than their peers, they were among the most successful acts of the Brit-pop era -- and thanks to frontman Jarvis Cocker's eloquent wit, their music has remained vital into the 21st century. For the first 12 years of their existence, the group languished in near total obscurity, releasing a handful of albums and singles in the '80s to barely any attention. At the turn of the decade, the band began to gain traction, with 1994's major-label debut His 'n' Hers introducing Pulp's fusion of David Bowie and Roxy Music's glam rock, disco, new wave, acid house, Europop, and British indie rock and Cocker's sharp, funny musings on sex and portraits of working-class misfits to a larger audience. The album paved the way for 1995's multi-platinum, Mercury Prize-winning Different Class, a set of equally class-conscious and catchy songs like the smash hit "Common People." In the wake of this massive success, Pulp focused on their artistic integrity with 1998's brooding This Is Hardcore and the acoustic introspection of 2001's Scott Walker-produced We Love Life. Occasional touring reunions eventually sparked a return to the studio, and 2025's More confronted aging and nostalgia with a mature version of Pulp's quintessential mix of glamor and gritty reality. Jarvis Cocker formed Pulp in 1978, when he was 15 years old. Originally called Arabicus Pulp, the first lineup consisted of schoolmates of Cocker. After a year, the band's name was truncated to Pulp. While they were in school, the group performed a handful of gigs. They recorded a demo sometime in 1980 or 1981, giving the tape to John Peel at one of his traveling shows. Peel liked the tape and invited the band to appear on his show. Pulp had their first Peel Session in November 1981. Instead of leading to record deals and pop stardom, the band's appearance on Peel led nowhere. Discouraged by Pulp's lack of success, every member but Cocker left the group in 1982 to go to university. The following year, Cocker assembled a new lineup that featured eight members, including keyboardist Simon Hinkler, who would later join the Mission. In this incarnation, Pulp had distinct folk overtones, as well as new wave underpinnings. The group landed their first record contract, releasing their debut album, It, on Red Rhino Records in April 1983. The record didn't make much of an impact, and the band fell apart again. After the second incarnation of Pulp disintegrated, Jarvis Cocker formed another version of the band, with guitarist/violinist Russell Senior, who became Cocker's first full-fledged collaborator. Cocker and Senior added drummer Magnus Doyle and bassist Peter Mansell to the group, as well as Tim Allcard, who did nothing but read poetry. Musically, Pulp backed away from the folky inclinations of It, adding keyboardist Candida Doyle in 1985, which led to a darker sound; shortly after her arrival, Allcard left the group. In 1985, Pulp released a series of singles on Fire Records. Just as their fortunes were looking up, Cocker became injured severely. As he was trying to impress a girl, he fell 30 feet out of a window, injuring his pelvis, foot, and wrist. For two months, he was confined to a wheelchair, but he performed concerts anyway. Recorded in 1986, Pulp's second album, Freaks, was a dense, dark affair. Following its May 1987 release, the band split during the filming of the video for "They Suffocate at Night." All of the members, except Cocker and Senior, left the group. Candida Doyle eventually returned, with drummer Nick Banks and bassist Steven Havenhand joining shortly afterward. Havenhand was soon replaced by Anthony Genn, who was soon replaced by Steve Mackey. Although the group had a stable lineup, they didn't gain much of a following. In 1988, Cocker moved to London with Mackey and began studying filmmaking at St. Martin's College. While he was studying, Fire offered Pulp the chance to record another album. The resulting effort, Separations, was recorded in 1989 and reflected Cocker's newfound obsession with acid house, but it also boasted some full-fledged pop songs. Separations was released nearly three years after it was completed. Cocker was prepared to stake out a career in film when the single from the album, "My Legendary Girlfriend," was released. NME named the song Single of the Week in 1991, and Pulp's career suddenly took off. Separations was released in June 1992, nearly three years after it was completed. That year, Pulp left Fire Records for Gift, and began releasing a series of singles that consolidated the success of "My Legendary Girlfriend." In particular, "Babies" earned the band a great deal of attention and led to a contract with Island Records, their first major-label deal. Island released Pulpintro, a compilation of the Gift singles, as the band recorded their major-label debut, His 'n' Hers. Upon its April 1994 release, the album earned positive reviews and became an unexpected success, reaching the British Top Ten; it was also nominated for the 1994 Mercury Prize and ultimately certified gold. For the rest of 1994 and the early part of 1995, Cocker suddenly became omnipresent on British television. These suave, humorous television appearances became legendary, making him somewhat of a national hero, as well as a sex symbol. No matter how popular Jarvis Cocker had become, Pulp didn't break into the big time until they released "Common People." The single became a massive hit upon its May 1995 release, debuting at number two on the U.K. charts. In July, Pulp accepted a last-minute headlining slot at Glastonbury Festival when the Stone Roses had to cancel. Pulp's set was rapturously received, launching the band into superstar status in England and conveniently setting the stage for their forthcoming album, Different Class. During the recording of the album, guitarist Mark Webber -- the president of Pulp's fan club -- became a full-time member of the group. The first record to feature Webber was the double A-sided single, "Mis-Shapes" and "Sorted for E's & Wizz," which was released in August, two months before Different Class. The single became a number two hit, despite a major tabloid controversy over the lyrics to "Sorted." Different Class arrived in late October to rave reviews throughout the British press. The album entered the charts at number one, going gold within its first week and platinum within the second, ultimately attaining quadruple platinum status in the U.K. At the end of the year, the album topped many best-of lists. In February 1996, Different Class was released in the United States to positive reviews. The album reached 34 on the U.S. Heatseekers Albums chart, appeared on the charts of 11 other countries, and was certified platinum for its sales throughout Europe. The massive fame and attention that the album brought Pulp influenced their follow-up, March 1998's world-weary, paranoid This Is Hardcore. Written largely by Cocker while sequestered in New York City, and recorded with Different Class producer Chris Thomas, the album leaned into the band's glam- and art rock influences. Though This Is Hardcore received strong reviews and topped the U.K. Albums Chart, its darker mood wasn't as widely appealing as its predecessor. Following the album's release, the band members took some time to pursue side projects such as DJ'ing at various nightclubs and remixing tracks for artists like Black Box Recorder and Death in Vegas. Meanwhile, they continued to play live, performing at various festivals, including the Meltdown Festival curated by Scott Walker. Walker proved such an inspiration for the group that Pulp hired him on as the producer of their new material after recording with Thomas was unsatisfactory. The resulting album, We Love Life -- its name inspired by the September 11 terrorist attacks -- was released in October 2001 in the U.K. and in early 2002 in the U.S. to critical acclaim. The introspective, organic-sounding We Love Life reached number six in the U.K., where it was certified silver. Pulp then began a lengthy hiatus, with Cocker moving from the U.K. to settle in Paris with his family. After a few quiet years he began recording again, first as a member of the barbed electro-pop duo Relaxed Muscle and then as a solo artist, releasing his debut solo album, Jarvis, at the end of 2006. That year, Pulp reissued His 'n' Hers, Different Class, and This Is Hardcore with B-sides, demos, and rarities. During this time, Doyle accompanied Cocker on his solo tours, while Mackey made a name for himself as a producer, working with M.I.A., the Long Blondes, and Florence + the Machine. Cocker's second album, Further Complications, was released in 2009 along with a book of lyrics called Mother, Brother, Lover: Selected Lyrics two years later. Also in 2011, Pulp reunited for a tour of the U.K., Europe, and Australia (as well as an appearance at Coachella in the U.S.) that stretched into 2011. Early in 2013, the band released "After You," a song from the We Love Life sessions. Cocker didn't release another album until 2017, when he paired with Chilly Gonzales for Room 29, a wry ode to Hollywood's Chateau Marmont. He formed the acclaimed, improvisational Jarv Is project that same year, with a lineup that included harpist and songwriter Serafina Steer and James Taylor Quartet bassist Andrew McKinney. Their debut album, Beyond the Pale, appeared in September 2020, and their soundtrack for the BBC series This Is Going to Hurt arrived in 2022. On his own, Cocker issued Chansons d'Ennui Tip-Top to accompany Wes Anderson's 2021 film The French Dispatch. It featured covers of material originally performed by the likes of Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Dutronc. In 2022, Pulp unveiled plans for a major reunion tour in 2023. Bassist Steve Mackey, who informed the press he would not be taking part in the concerts, died on March 2, 2023, at the age of 56. Joined by touring members Andrew McKinney, Emma Smith, and Adam Betts, as well as a ten-piece string section, the band began debuting new songs at their U.K. shows and continued to do so at their U.S. dates in 2024. After signing to Rough Trade, Pulp released More, their first album in 24 years, in June 2025. Recorded with producer James Ford and featuring contributions from Richard Hawley and Relaxed Muscle member Jason Buckle, the album reflected on aging with the band's signature wit. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine