After Dinner Speakers: Jarvis Cocker, Jethro Tull, Leslie Ash

Jarvis Branson Cocker was born in the Sheffield suburb of Intake in 1963. Whilst still at school he forms his first band with his schoolmates 'Arabicus Pulp', soon to be renamed simply as 'Pulp'. Prior to Cocker completing his 'A' levels, the band are offered the chance to record a session for John Peel at B.B.C. Radio One. Discouraged by the band's lack of success, every member but Jarvis left the band in 1982 to go to university. The following year, Jarvis assembled a new lineup which featured eight members. The group landed their first record contract, releasing their debut album, It, in 1984. It didn't make much of an impact and the band fell apart again. After the second incarnation of Pulp disintegrated, Jarvis formed another version of the band. In 1985, Pulp released a series of singles on Fire Records. Just as their fortunes were looking up, Jarvis became injured severely. As he was trying to impress a girl, he fell 30 feet out of a window, injuring his pelvis, foot, and wrist. For two months, he was confined to a wheelchair, but he performed concerts anyway. Released in 1986, Pulp's second album Freaks was a dense, dark affair. Following its release, the band split during the filming of the video for "They Suffocate at Night." In 1988, Jarvis moved to London and began studying filmmaking at St. Martin's College. While he was studying, Pulp was offered the chance to record another album. The resulting album, Separations, was recorded in 1989 and reflected Jarvis's newfound obsession with acid house but it also boasted some full-fledged pop songs. Separations was released nearly three years later after it was completed. Jarvis was prepared to stake out a career in film when a single from the album, "My Legendary Girlfriend," was released. NME named the song Single of the Week in 1991 and Pulp's career suddenly took off. In early 1992, Pulp left Fire Records for Gift, and began releasing a series of singles that consolidated the success of "My Legendary Girlfriend." In particular, "Babies" earned the band a great deal of attention. "Babies" led to a contract with Island Records, their first major-label deal. Island released PulpIntro, a compilation of the Gift singles, as the band recorded its major-label debut, His N Hers. Upon its spring 1994 release, His N Hers earned positive reviews and became an unexpected success, reaching the British Top Ten; it was also nominated for the 1994 Mercury Award. For the rest of 1994 and the early part of 1995, Jarvis suddenly became known on British television. These suave, humourous television appearances became legendary, making Jarvis somewhat of a national hero, as well as a sex symbol. No matter how popular Jarvis had become, the band didn't break into the big time until they released "Common People." The single became a massive hit upon its May 1995 release, debuting at number two on the U.K. charts. In July, Pulp accepted a last-minute headlining slot at the Glastonbury festival when the Stone Roses had to cancel. Pulp's set was rapturously received, launching the band into superstar status in England and conveniently setting the stage for their forthcoming album, Different Class. Their next album This is Hardcore was released in March 1998.