PULP - DIFFERENT CLASS

Pulp are a British rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978. At their most prominent period the band consisted of Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Russell Senior (guitar, violin), Candida Doyle (keyboards), Nick Banks (drums, percussion), Steve Mackey (bass) and Mark Webber (guitar, keyboards). The group became associated with the Britpop movement during the 1990s, and Cocker was often regarded as one of its prominent figures. Their lyrics frequently portray everyday life in Britain and contain references to British culture and social observation. The band experienced limited commercial success during the 1980s but achieved wider recognition in the mid-1990s. Their album "His 'n' Hers" (1994) reached the top ten of the UK Albums Chart and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. Its follow-up, "Different Class" (1995), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, won the Mercury Music Prize and produced several successful singles, including "Common People" and the double A-side "Mis-Shapes/Sorted for E's & Wizz". The band's sixth album, "This Is Hardcore" (1998), also debuted at number one in the United Kingdom and received a Mercury Prize nomination. During this period Pulp headlined the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival and were frequently grouped with Blur, Oasis and Suede as part of the Britpop movement. After releasing "We Love Life" in 2001, the band entered a hiatus, having sold more than ten million records worldwide. Pulp reunited in 2011 for a series of festival performances and released the single "After You" in 2013, their first new song in twelve years. The group reunited again in 2022 and released their eighth studio album, "More", in June 2025. Pulp were formed in 1978 at The City School in Sheffield by Jarvis Cocker and Peter Dalton. Early rehearsals took place at Cocker’s home and included Dalton’s younger brother Ian. The band initially used the name Arabicus before adopting the name Pulp. An early line-up featured Cocker, Dalton, David “Fungus” Lockwood and Mark Swift, and the band played its first public performance at Rotherham Arts Centre in July 1980. During this period Cocker also met Russell Senior, who later became an important collaborator. The group’s early musical style was eclectic and incorporated elements of pop, new wave and post-punk. In October 1981 they recorded a session for the BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, which increased their visibility on the local music scene. Despite this exposure the band struggled to achieve commercial success, and several members left to attend university. A revised line-up formed around Cocker, including Simon Hinkler, David Hinkler, Wayne Furniss, Peter Boam, Gary Wilson and Cocker’s sister Saskia. This version of the band recorded the mini-album "It", released in 1983 by Red Rhino Records. The album contained largely folk-influenced pop songs and reflected a stylistic change from their earlier recordings. It did not achieve commercial success, and a subsequent single, "Everybody’s Problem"/"There Was", also failed to gain significant attention. The line-up soon dissolved. In the mid-1980s Cocker collaborated with Russell Senior in a new project that retained the name Pulp. Drummer Magnus Doyle joined the group, followed by bassist Peter Mansell and occasional keyboardist Tim Allcard. In 1984 Allcard was replaced by Candida Doyle on keyboards. At a London performance the band attracted the attention of the independent label Fire Records, which signed them soon afterwards. In 1985 Cocker sustained injuries after falling from a window, and he temporarily performed in a wheelchair during concerts. Fire Records released several singles, including "Little Girl" (1985), "Dogs Are Everywhere" (1986) and "They Suffocate at Night" (1987), before issuing the album "Freaks" in 1987. The album was recorded quickly and received limited promotion. The band experienced further line-up changes during this period, though Nick Banks joined as drummer and Candida Doyle later returned as a permanent member. Pulp continued to record material during the late 1980s, including work on the album "Separations". Although it was completed earlier, the album was not released by Fire Records until 1992. Around the same time the single "My Legendary Girlfriend" received attention in the British music press, and "Countdown" gained further coverage. In 1991 the band performed their first concert outside the United Kingdom in France. Seeking wider recognition, the group began releasing singles through the Gift label, an imprint associated with Warp Records, with support from Island Records. The single "O.U." appeared in 1992, followed by "Babies" later the same year. After negotiations involving management and contractual issues with Fire Records, Pulp signed to Island Records, which became their primary label during the 1990s. In 1993 Pulp released the single "Razzmatazz", followed by "Lipgloss" and "Do You Remember the First Time?", the latter becoming their first UK top-40 single. These releases preceded the album "His 'n' Hers" in 1994. Growing media interest in Britpop contributed to increased attention for the band, and they supported Blur on a tour of the United States that year. The band’s commercial peak occurred in 1995 with the release of the single "Common People", which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. Pulp also performed at the Glastonbury Festival that year as a replacement headliner. Their album "Different Class", released in October 1995, debuted at number one in the United Kingdom and received critical acclaim. The album included the singles "Disco 2000" and "Something Changed". Around this time Mark Webber, who had previously been involved with the band’s fan club, joined as a full-time member. In 1996 Cocker attracted significant media attention after entering the stage during Michael Jackson’s performance of "Earth Song" at the BRIT Awards in a protest that led to his brief detention by police. No charges were ultimately brought. During the same period the compilation "Countdown 1992–1983", consisting of earlier recordings, was released and reached the UK top ten. Pulp also contributed the track "Mile End" to the soundtrack of the film "Trainspotting". Later in 1996 the band performed at the V Festival before taking a break from public performances. During the late 1990s guitarist Russell Senior left the group. Work on the next album proceeded slowly, partly due to personal and creative difficulties within the band. "This Is Hardcore" was released in 1998 and presented a darker musical and lyrical approach than their previous records. Topics explored in the album included fame, relationships and the effects of drug use. In the same year Pulp collaborated with Patrick Doyle on the song "Like a Friend" for the film "Great Expectations". After a further gap the band released "We Love Life" in 2001, produced by Scott Walker. The album marked a stylistic shift and became the group’s final studio album for more than two decades. Pulp subsequently toured the United Kingdom, including performances in national parks. In 2002 they left Island Records and released the compilation "Hits", which included a new track. The band also organised the Auto festival in Rotherham, where they performed their final concert before entering a hiatus. During the 2000s individual members pursued other projects. Cocker released solo work and collaborated with several artists, including Air and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Steve Mackey worked as a producer for various musicians, while other members participated in touring and recording projects. In 2006 the albums "His 'n' Hers", "Different Class" and "This Is Hardcore" were reissued with additional material, and a compilation of the band’s BBC sessions titled "The Peel Sessions" was released. In 2011 the line-up associated with "Different Class" reunited for a series of concerts and festival appearances in Europe and Australia, including performances at the Glastonbury Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals and other events. Further shows followed in 2012, including appearances in North and South America and a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Russell Senior did not participate in some later performances. In December 2012 the band played a concert in Sheffield and provided attendees with a download of the previously unreleased song "After You", which was released more widely in 2013. A heritage plaque commemorating the band’s first performance venue was unveiled at The Leadmill in Sheffield in 2015 with several members present. In 2022 Pulp announced another reunion for concerts scheduled in 2023. Bassist Steve Mackey confirmed that he would not participate in the tour. In March 2023 Mackey died at the age of 56. For the reunion performances the band were joined by additional touring musicians including Andrew McKinney, Emma Smith and Adam Betts, as well as a string ensemble known as the Elysian Collective. During these performances the band introduced several new songs, including "Hymn of the North", "Background Noise", "Spike Island", "My Sex" and "Farmer’s Market". In December 2024 the group signed with Rough Trade Records. Their album "More" was released on 6 June 2025 and was preceded by the singles "Spike Island" and "Got to Have Love". Around the same time the band performed a surprise set at the Glastonbury Festival under the name Patchwork. They subsequently undertook the Here Comes More Tour in support of the album. Later in 2025 Pulp announced the EP "The Man Comes Around", scheduled for release in February 2026, featuring a cover version of the Johnny Cash song of the same name and additional tracks recorded during the sessions for "More". The band are also scheduled to perform at the opening night concert of the Adelaide Festival in Australia in February 2026. Studio albums It (1983) Freaks (1987) Separations (1992) His 'n' Hers (1994) Different Class (1995) This Is Hardcore (1998) We Love Life (2001) More (2025) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.