Life Among the Common People: A Chat with Pulp

Discography:

It (Red Rhino, 1983)

Freaks (Fire Records, 1987)

Separations (Fire Records, 1992)

His ‘n’ Hers (Island, 1994)

Different Class (Island, 1995)

This is Hardcore (Island, 1998)

We Love Life (Sanctuary, 2002)

Popular Tracks: Disco 2000, Common People, Sorted for E’s and Wizz, Help the Aged, Sunrise, Bad Cover Version

Pulp were a British band that had been around for years but didn’t start becoming popular until at least 1994. With the release of the landmark single “Common People,” the band became huge and served as something different to the Britpop excess of Blur and Oasis. The dynamism of frontman Jarvis Cocker served as a reminder that the pomp and circumstance of ‘70s glam rock was still alive and well. Disbanding around the beginning of the 21^st century, the band briefly reunited to reclaim their crown and prove that older rock bands were better than newer bands.

Pete Crigler: How did you get interested in playing music?

Nick Banks: Punk rock told us that it’s easy to just go out and form a band. Some kids across the school classroom formed a band so me and my mates thought we should. So we did. We were age 14. 

Pete: Tell me about some of your earlier bands.

Nick: This band formed was called ‘Fatal Noise’ I started by getting a bass guitar but soon found out I could play the drums without trying too hard.

Pete: How did you come to join Pulp?

Nick: I followed Pulp around Sheffield wherever they played. I knew Jarvis a little from a legendary club called ‘The Limit’. One day I saw a small piece of paper stuck to the wall of the Leadmill saying ‘Pulp want drummer’ - The Rest is history……as they say

Pete: Was there a period when the band came to breaking up?

Nick: Yes, during the long period waiting for separations to come out when Jarvis and Steve lived in London was tricky….

Pete: What was the recording of Separations like and what caused the delay?

Nick: It was the first time we had a bit of a budget to do the best possible record. We got to use some technology etc to get the songs sounding as best they possibly could.

The delay was due to a. Fire being shite. b. The demise of rough trade distribution which cocked it right up.

Pete: When did the band leave Fire and sign with Island?

Nick: First time around 1986 and for the second time around 1990/91

Pete: What was the recording of His n’ Hers and Different Class like?

Nick: A very different kettle of fish. Using proper big boys’ studios and pro production. It’s odd that the introduction of cutting edge tech really didn’t make the process any quicker, even though the songs were (mostly) written before going in.

It was very exciting both time as we could really feel our momentum building.

Pete: What was the inspiration for songs like Common People, Disco 2000 and Help the Aged?

Nick: Mr. Blue Sky (ELO), Gloria (Laura Branigan) and err, summat else.

Pete: What was success like and how did everyone react to it?

Nick: It was very welcome. A vindication of years of sticking at it. I think we reacted with grace...

Pete: What did the band think of the explosion of Britpop?

Nick: Bit of a fraud really - we had been shoved into loads of photo music movements of which all were laughable. But I guess it was quite an exciting time

Pete: What caused Russell’s departure and how did the band deal with it?

Nick: I think he got disillusioned with the success etc…we just got on with it.

Pete: Was there a sense of finality when it came to recording We Love Life?

Nick: A little bit - it was a very difficult record to do - took ages. It did feel like some folk wanted to take a breather.

Pete: What were you up to after the breakup?

Nick: Walking the dogs - taking over the family pottery business.

Pete: What caused the reunion and what was the fans’ reaction?

Nick: A good friend of ours suddenly passed away and this shook Jarvis into doing something again - You never know when it’s your last hurrah! - Fan reaction was overwhelmingly positive but I had most fun reading the negative ones - “They are only doing it for the money” etc there was some hilarious ones….

Pete: Are there any future plans?

Nick: Sadly not.

Pete: What are you currently up to? Tell me about the pottery business.

Nick: Still walking the dogs and selling ceramics on-line.

Pete: Do you keep in touch with anyone from the band?

Nick: A little bit - they all live own London yet I keep things real in Sheffield.

Pete: What do you think of the impact of alternative rock in the ‘90s?

Nick: Bit too early to say….

Pete: What do you hope Pulp’s legacy will be?

Nick: That any old duffers can make it….somehow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus Statement from Candida Doyle

l grew up in a house with a piano and me and my brothers had piano lessons. My parents were always playing music, so it was an early love....l joined Pulp when the keyboardist left and my brother and best friend, also in the band, suggested l step in. l went for a 'jam' with Russ and Jarv and was in!...l nearly left a few times, but stayed partly because there weren't enough women in bands and l felt l had to stay and be counted. l also did leave once for 6 months, but Jarvis asked me back again....l remember recording Separations as being a pain in the arse!...success was a..may...zeen. Tough too, we were worked hard which ended up backfiring and putting, at least Jarvis and l, of ever doing anything ever again, for a while!...We hated Britpop as a concept, which is weird, cos looking back now, l see we WERE Britpop!......There we go, l hope that's enough!