Pulp 

Biography

• Pulp is an English alternative rock band from Sheffield consisting of Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Nick Banks, Steve Mackey and Mark Webber.

  In 1978 when Jarvis Cocker and Peter Dalton were only teenagers, they formed the band Arabicus Pulp while at The City School in Sheffield. In 1981 the group gave their demo to BBR 1 Radio DJ John Peel, who gave them a Peel Session, thus increasing their local popularity. Despite their exposure on national radio, success was not forthcoming and, apart from Cocker, most of the core line-up left for university; Simon and David Hinkler, Wayne Furniss, Peter Boam, Gary Wilson and Saskia Cocker then joined Cocker.

  Together as a new lineup, they managed to get enough local backing to record a mini-album in late 1982, entitled “It.” However, the album failed commercially, and after continued failed success the Cocker was set to disband then group; that is, until a new incarnation of Pulp was formed. The result was their signing with Fire Records, and releasing “Freaks” in 1987. “Freaks” which had been pushed back from its original release date was not well received. Due to the continued turmoil of getting the band on a momentum, Cocker returned to his studies, effectively disbanding the group; that is, until Cocker met with Steve Mackey, who joined the group as a bass player.

  In mid-1989, they began recording another album called “Separations” which they released in 1992, but not before leaving their label to sign with Warp Records. The release of singles as well as the album garnered much attention from both fans and critics alike, earning them Mercury Prize nominations, as well as chart topping singles. This sudden increase in popularity was helped by the massive media interest in Britpop, helping them gain more success overseas. Released in October 1995, their next album, “Different Class” also garnered significant critical praise and debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart.

  During the period of high attention from music critics as well as tabloids, Russell Senior decided to leave the band. Additionally, Cocker was having difficulty with the celebrity lifestyle, battling cocaine addiction and a break-up of a long-term relationship. They did release “This Is Hardcore” in 1998, but essentially fell from the public eye until 2001 with the release of “We Love Life.” The group set out on tour, hitting the United Kingdom where they would play their last show before taking an extended hiatus.

  While on hiatus, Cocker worked on multiple side projects including a solo project, and in 2010 the announcement of their reuniting was made, as well as an announcement of 22 concerts between May and September 2011, taking place in Europe and Australia. On 25 December 2012, Pulp made a previously unreleased track, "After You," a song that had only previously existed as a demo.

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