Pulp

Formed in 1978, Pulp was given an early break when influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel invited them to play a session on his show in 1981. Through various line-up changes, the group endured 15 years of obscurity before becoming stars of the Britpop explosion in the mid-1990s, turning kitchen-sink, working class observations into roaring indie disco pop. The group’s only constant member since their formation is frontman and musical visionary Jarvis Cocker, who managed to keep the band together throughout various trends in the ever-changing music business. Pulp’s fourth album, His 'n' Hers (1994), proved a major breakthrough, making it into the UK Top 10, but it was the huge, runaway success of Number 2 single “Common People” that turned them into mainstream stars. Pulp's finest moment came shortly after when they replaced the Stone Roses at the last minute to play a legendary headlining performance at the Glastonbury Festival. The classic Different Class (1995) followed, winning the Mercury Music Prize and topping the UK album charts. Jarvis Cocker hit the headlines when he infamously stormed the stage at the 1996 BRIT Awards and wiggled his backside at Michael Jackson. As the excess of the era fizzled out, their music took a darker turn with This Is Hardcore (1998) and We Love Life (2001) before they split in 2002. Surprisingly, the group’s Different Class line-up – Jarvis Cocker, keyboardist Candida Doyle, bassist Steve Mackey, drummer Nick Banks, and guitarists Mark Webber and Russell Senior – reunited for a series of live shows between 2011 and 2013. It took another decade before the group would announce another reunion in 2023, this time without Russell Senior or Steve Mackey. Several months after the reunion announcement, Steve Mackey died on March 2, 2023.