Pulp have been about to ‘break’ for years. The big build˗up’s happening again and it’s probably their last chance. Things look, promising this time, provided they don’t fall out first...
Forming at school, Pulp played their first gig at the Leadmill over five years ago. Only Singer / Guitarist Jarvis Cocker remains from that era. Russell Senior (occasional vocals, guitar and violin) gave us
a potted history:
«There have been three basic incarnations. One did a John Peel session which was repeated. That was the first swell of success. That group split. Second, was the album line˗up, which didn’t sell many, but got a certain amount of critical acclaim and was heading in the right direction. Then that split. This line˗up’s been going for two years.»
Jarvis: «So we’re just about ready to split up now.»
Russell: «We’re on just about the same stage of teetering on the edge of independent success.»
All the group are unemployed (the others being Peter Mansell, Candida Doyle and Magnus Doyle), but they have become «Damn near full˗time. With the current work, there’s no way we could get a job.» (Russell).
This activity includes a ‘mini˗tour’, including an anti˗apartheid gig at the University on October 25th (which isn’t in Machst Du—Prod’Ed.), also featuring local band Mr. Morality and London band, Popular Front. Also, a single is imminent, recorded at Sheffield’s Input Studio.
But don’t expect to hear these tracks live! Jarvis—«We’ve stopped playing the songs on it. Some people think we’re being awkward, but it’s there on record; we’re fed up of hearing them. If people see us live and like us, I’d have thought they’d go and buy our record, anyway.»
Their new label signed them on the strength of the L.P., released two and a half years ago, which Jarvis says is «very polite and relaxed», while Russell says «We're now rude and intense.»
Their disagreements with their label seem to typify the band—«We don’t hang around with each other; we don’t like each other very much. There is a certain tension—I don’t like it when everyone gets comfortable.» [Jarvis]. «Most people have fights with the audience, we have fights with each other.» [Russell].
Jarvis is responsible for much of the songwriting, and the band now has a large repertoire. «Which we swap around, like crop˗rotation». [Russell]. «We’ve got one coming up soon; a winder [sic, winter?] song, which we’ve not played since last year.» [Jarvis]. «The really dedicated Pulp fan will know they can come and hear the song if it’s been snowing». [Russell].
Jarvis: «If things are bad, you can either get depressed about them, or you can think—they’re so bad it’s almost funny. That’s how I feel most of the time. There isn’t anything humorous about us—well, not intentionally. We’re not wacky!» «Although we have tongue in cheek, every word’s meant!» [Russell].
Russell believes in «A theatrical element in our performances» which [apparently] used to be aided by toilet rolls draped around the stage [«Which looked quite effective with the lights»—Jarvis]. «I really like being in a band. To do something good, you really have to be self˗obsessed and fight for it» explained Jarvis. Russell talked of an ultimate objective to make «The best music in the world. Of necessity, you think what others are trying to do, is not so good, so you have to hate them, in a way.»
So what of other bands in Sheffield ?
Russell: «Best it’s been for years—very healthy. What it lacks is a fanzine—you normally get one associated with a ‘movement.’»
Does that mean there’s actually a movement?
«That supposed ‘Sheffield Scene’ is based around Cabaret Voltaire and their minions. But now, there’s a hell of a lot of ‘clean cut young men’ doing passionate songs about love and things, in various ways... But quite good, not wimpy. The best bands in Sheffield from that past wave never got anywhere. It was the worst ends of it—those that compromised round the edges, that got anywhere. I think some of the bands in the current Sheffield upsurge are going to break. My tips would be: Tree Bound Story, Dig Vs Drill, and us, in that order.
So where can we expect to find Pulp in another five years?
Jarvis: «I don’t really like old bands. In five year’s time, I’ll either be in the ‘Hole in the Road’ with a cider bottle and a brown paper bag, or I’ll be quite well off somewhere. Either very happy or very depressed, I won’t be in the middle.»
Russell: «There's only two options; you’re either a pop star or you’re scrubbing crabs.»
Pulp have been about to ‘break’ for years. The big build˗up’s happening again and it’s probably their last chance. Things look, promising this time, provided they don’t fall out first...
Forming at school, Pulp played their first gig at the Leadmill over five years ago. Only Singer / Guitarist Jarvis Cocker remains from that era. Russell Senior (occasional vocals, guitar and violin) gave us
a potted history:
«There have been three basic incarnations. One did a John Peel session which was repeated. That was the first swell of success. That group split. Second, was the album line˗up, which didn’t sell many, but got a certain amount of critical acclaim and was heading in the right direction. Then that split. This line˗up’s been going for two years.»
Jarvis: «So we’re just about ready to split up now.»
Russell: «We’re on just about the same stage of teetering on the edge of independent success.»
All the group are unemployed (the others being Peter Mansell, Candida Doyle and Magnus Doyle), but they have become «Damn near full˗time. With the current work, there’s no way we could get a job.» (Russell).
This activity includes a ‘mini˗tour’, including an anti˗apartheid gig at the University on October 25th (which isn’t in Machst Du—Prod’Ed.), also featuring local band Mr. Morality and London band, Popular Front. Also, a single is imminent, recorded at Sheffield’s Input Studio.
But don’t expect to hear these tracks live! Jarvis—«We’ve stopped playing the songs on it. Some people think we’re being awkward, but it’s there on record; we’re fed up of hearing them. If people see us live and like us, I’d have thought they’d go and buy our record, anyway.»
Their new label signed them on the strength of the L.P., released two and a half years ago, which Jarvis says is «very polite and relaxed», while Russell says «We're now rude and intense.»
Their disagreements with their label seem to typify the band—«We don’t hang around with each other; we don’t like each other very much. There is a certain tension—I don’t like it when everyone gets comfortable.» [Jarvis]. «Most people have fights with the audience, we have fights with each other.» [Russell].
Jarvis is responsible for much of the songwriting, and the band now has a large repertoire. «Which we swap around, like crop˗rotation». [Russell]. «We’ve got one coming up soon; a winder [sic, winter?] song, which we’ve not played since last year.» [Jarvis]. «The really dedicated Pulp fan will know they can come and hear the song if it’s been snowing». [Russell].
Jarvis: «If things are bad, you can either get depressed about them, or you can think—they’re so bad it’s almost funny. That’s how I feel most of the time. There isn’t anything humorous about us—well, not intentionally. We’re not wacky!» «Although we have tongue in cheek, every word’s meant!» [Russell].
Russell believes in «A theatrical element in our performances» which [apparently] used to be aided by toilet rolls draped around the stage [«Which looked quite effective with the lights»—Jarvis]. «I really like being in a band. To do something good, you really have to be self˗obsessed and fight for it» explained Jarvis. Russell talked of an ultimate objective to make «The best music in the world. Of necessity, you think what others are trying to do, is not so good, so you have to hate them, in a way.»
So what of other bands in Sheffield ?
Russell: «Best it’s been for years—very healthy. What it lacks is a fanzine—you normally get one associated with a ‘movement.’»
Does that mean there’s actually a movement?
«That supposed ‘Sheffield Scene’ is based around Cabaret Voltaire and their minions. But now, there’s a hell of a lot of ‘clean cut young men’ doing passionate songs about love and things, in various ways... But quite good, not wimpy. The best bands in Sheffield from that past wave never got anywhere. It was the worst ends of it—those that compromised round the edges, that got anywhere. I think some of the bands in the current Sheffield upsurge are going to break. My tips would be: Tree Bound Story, Dig Vs Drill, and us, in that order.
So where can we expect to find Pulp in another five years?
Jarvis: «I don’t really like old bands. In five year’s time, I’ll either be in the ‘Hole in the Road’ with a cider bottle and a brown paper bag, or I’ll be quite well off somewhere. Either very happy or very depressed, I won’t be in the middle.»
Russell: «There's only two options; you’re either a pop star or you’re scrubbing crabs.»