Pulp

Pulp are an English band formed in Sheffield in 1978, though it took over a decade of lineup changes and stylistic drift before they found their signature sound. Fronted by the distinctive, wry voice of Jarvis Cocker, the classic lineup also featured Candida Doyle on keyboards, Mark Webber and Russell Senior on guitars, Nick Banks on drums and Steve Mackey on bass. Early albums such as It, Freaks and Separations showed a band still searching for an identity, moving between fragile folk-pop and gawky post-punk textures.

Their fortunes changed dramatically in the early 1990s when they signed to Island Records and became one of the defining acts of Britpop. His n Hers brought them into the mainstream, but it was Different Class, with anthems like «Common People» and «Disco 2000», that turned Pulp into one of the era's most celebrated bands, prized for Cocker's sharp, class-conscious storytelling and knack for turning ordinary lives into cinematic pop drama. The darker, more claustrophobic This Is Hardcore followed, exploring fame and excess with a more textured, orchestral sound.

Pulp's music blends glam-inflected synths, disco rhythms and kitchen-sink lyricism, setting them apart from more guitar-driven Britpop peers like Oasis or Blur. After a hiatus, the band has periodically reunited for live performances, and their catalogue remains a touchstone for British indie and pop songwriting.