_____Pulp_____

Pulp were an English alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker (vocals, guitar). They were originally known as "Arabicus Pulp,"[1] but this was shortened a year later. The members of Pulp were all schoolmates attending City Secondary School in Sheffield.

Throughout the 1980s, the band struggled to find success but gained prominence in the UK in the 1990s after the release of the albums His 'n' Hers, Different Class and This Is Hardcore. The latter two of these reached number one spot in the UK Album Chart. Their musical style in this successful era consisted of disco-influenced pop-rock coupled with down-to-earth "kitchen-sink drama"-style lyrics. This success led to the band and frontman Jarvis Cocker becoming major figures of the mid-1990s Britpop movement and to two nominations for the Mercury Music Prize; in 1994 for His 'n' Hers and a win in 1996 for Different Class. Their 1995 single Common People reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and in 2007 was voted number 3 in NME's's 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever. Later in 1995, they headlined the Pyramid Stage of the Glastonbury Festival. After their last album We Love Life in 2001, the band entered an extended hiatus. As of October 2003, Pulp had sold over 10 million records.

A 15-year-old Jarvis Cocker and his friend Peter Dalton, who was 14, conceived the band at The City School in Sheffield. Cocker's original preference was to name the band after the film Pulp though it was decided that this was too short. Instead, the two took inspiration from a copy of the Financial Times which listed the Arabicas coffee bean in its commodity index. Cocker and Dalton used this, with a slight spelling change, and the band became 'Arabacus'.[3] Early rehearsals took place in Cocker's house and featured Cocker, Dalton and Dalton's younger brother Ian. The band grew tired of the name and added Cocker's original suggestion, becoming 'Arabacus Pulp'. A fixed line-up was then established: Cocker, Dalton and two friends of theirs, David Lockwood and Mark Swift.[4] However, this soon disintegrated into a fairly un-set membership where Cocker remained as the only core member. The band played their first public gig at Rotherham Arts Centre in July 1980. Also at this time they also produced a low-budget film, called "A Pulp Film" which they presented at their school and soundtracked themselves[5]. During this period, their music style was varied - approximately described as "a cross between Abba and The Fall"[6]. Later in 1980, they played a gig at The Leadmill in Sheffield where Cocker met Russell Senior who remembered Cocker from his charismatic sales techniques in his part-time job at the local fish market[7]. They were reviewed in local fanzine at the time as sounding "as if they listen to the John Peel show every night in an endless quest for influences"[8]. Indeed, in October 1981, they made a demo tape they gave to the Peel which landed them a Peel Session[9]. The session was giant leap forward for the young band, who became well-known on the local music scene as a result. The tracks recorded were in the typical Sheffield sound of the time (cf. The Human League and Comsat Angels): electronic New Wave and post-punk. These tracks were released in 2006 on The Peel Sessions compilation.

Discography:
Studio albums

* Released: 18 April 1983
* Label: Red Rhino (REDLP29)
* Formats: CD, LP

1987 Freaks

* Released: 11 May 1987
* Label: Fire (FIRELP5)
* Formats: CD, Cassette, LP

1992 Separations

* Released: 19 June 1992
* Label: Fire (FIRE11026)
* Formats: CD, Cassette, LP

1994 His 'n' Hers

* Released: 11 April 1994
* Label: Island (ILPS8025)
* Formats: CD, Cassette, LP

1995 Different Class

* Released: 30 October 1995
* Label: Island (ILPS8041)
* Formats: CD, Cassette, LP

1998 This Is Hardcore

* Released: 30 March 1998
* Label: Island (ILPSD 8066)
* Formats: CD, LP, Cassette

2001 We Love Life

* Released: 22 October 2001
* Label: Universal Island (ILPS8110)
* Formats: CD, LP

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