Pulp
The Britpop of the working class
Formation and early years
Pulp was formed in Sheffield in 1978 around Jarvis Cocker (vocals), who was only 15 years old at the time. The band went through more than a decade of anonymity before breaking through in the 1990s.
The Britpop explosion
His ‘n’ Hers (1994) and especially Different Class (1995) propelled Pulp to the top of the Britpop movement. The single “Common People” became a class anthem and one of the most iconic songs of 1990s Britain.
The album sold more than 4 million copies and won the Mercury Prize in 1996.
During the 1996 Brit Awards, while Michael Jackson was performing “Earth Song” in a messianic-style staging, Jarvis Cocker invaded the stage, dancing mockingly to protest what he saw as an overblown display of ego. The incident made headlines across Britain and reinforced his status as a popular anti-hero.
Legacy
Jarvis Cocker became a British cultural icon. The band reunited for concerts in 2011 and again in 2023, confirming the cult status of their music.
Iconic guitars
Guitarist Mark Webber is associated with Fender Telecasters and Hagstrom guitars, while the band’s sound relies as much on synthesizers and violins as on guitars.
