Do you remember the first time?

So I hear the news today that Pulp are reforming.  The ‘proper’ line-up – with Russell Senior!  A line-up that hasn’t been seen since the mid ’90s.

Pulp are a band close to my heart.  In my opinion the greatest of the ‘Britpop’ era bands (although their roots extend much further back) and an important band in terms of my own musical trajectory.  I first fell for the band when I heard babies and it skewed me in the direction of  ‘the indie-kid’ for a fair few years.  The band had a freshness and a zest of the ’70s.  I hold His ‘n’ Hers and Separations aloft as absolute classic albums.  Separations has a few misfires, so if you’re only going to give one album a go make sure it’s His ‘n’ Hers.

I went to see Pulp’s Christmas concert at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London in 1994 (I think).  An era defining moment.  It was before the release of their most acclaimed album “Different Class“, but they were already playing Common People.  I suppose that is the song that came to define them.  It’s not one of my favourites… but even back then I could appreciate that this was going to be the making of them.

There followed the decline… incidents with Michael Jackson and the usual rock and roll lifestyle stuff.  Jarvis becoming a celebrity didn’t help.   And so ended the story.  I always stick up for the memory of Pulp though.  One of the greatest bands of all time.  And it is going to be with a great sense of nostalgia that I will see that formidable line-up return to the stage.  Do I remember the first time?  Only just… but yes, I do.