Jarvis Cocker Headlines Forthcoming Rough Trade Tour

The UK trek will stop at:

11.25 Sheffield - Academy
11.26 London - Shepherd's Bush Empire
11.28 Edinburgh - Picture House
11.30 Manchester - Academy
12.2 Birmingham - Academy

Visit Jarvis on MySpace.

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let...

Jarvis Cocker @ Terminal 5: International Playboy

Sheerly Iconic. Massively Lascivious. Insanely Brilliant. Photos, setlist & MP3 below.







(Setlist) Complications. Caucasian Blues. Tonight. Girls Like It Too. Big Julie. I Will Kill Again. Angela. Told You Twice. Big Stuff. Black Magic. (Encore) Fat Children. Just A Fucking Song. Cunts Are Still Running The World. Don't Let Him Waste Your Time. Face It.

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Jarvis Cocker Describes 'Loud' Sophomore Effort

He exclaims: *What I've tried to do with the new stuff, rather than me just sit there and wait for inspiration to come at some point, which takes ages, instead I've written stuff together with other people. And it's a bit louder. That really made me think. I'd never really had that before. Pulp could be loud, but we didn't really rock. Well, maybe occasionally.* Read more here. MP3 at bottom of post.

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Jarvis Cocker Covers David Bowie In France

Enjoy his take on 'Space Oddity' below. He follows it up with 'We Will Rock You'.


MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Jarvis Cocker Announces Brief Tour

Catch him at one of the following gigs:

Mar 6: Havana - Monterrey
Mar 8: Centro Dinamico Pegaso - Mexico City
Mar 11: La Trastienda Club - Buenos Aires

Visit Jarvis on MySpace.

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Jarvis Cocker Plays Surprise Gig

His set from last night's London show included:

-Survivor's 'Eye Of The Tiger'
-Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town'
-Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze'
-The Jesus & Mary Chain's 'Sidewalking'

He closed with 'Winter Wonderland'.

Read more about the Rough Trade Xmas party here.

MP3: Pulp - This Is Hardcore

Jarvis Cocker Retracts Eurovision Assertion

The Independent reports: *It appears Jarvis Cocker will not be the man after all to save Britain from its annual humiliation at the Eurovision Song Contest. Earlier this year, the gangly popstar made a bizarre bid to pen the UK's entry in 2008. "The door is always open if they want to ask me," he said. "I've always wanted to do one." Sadly, his interest appears to have waned. When Pandora recently tried to get Cocker to commit to his pledge, I was practically laughed off the telephone line. Chortled a spokesman: "Sorry, but I wouldn't hold your breath on that one."*

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Beastie Boys Hope To Work With M.I.A. & Jarvis Cocker

Billboard's got the dirt: *The Beastie Boys are moving ahead with plans for a vocal version of their latest album, the all-instrumental "The Mix-Up." Adam "MCA" Yauch tells Billboard.com the trio is "talking to some different artists who might do kinda like remixes and put vocals on it, so it wouldn't be us doing vocals on it. It would be kind of like a different version of the album, with a bunch of people guesting on it." Among those in the loop, according to Yauch, are M.I.A., Lily Allen and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker -- "a bunch of British people," Yauch notes with a laugh. "It'll be interesting to see what they do with the stuff." That might not be the only outgrowth of the "The Mix-Up," which Yauch, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz released in June. Yauch says the Beasties have an idea for a visual version of the album as well, incorporating images from the group's touring to support "The Mix-Up." "We've been traveling with a Super 8 camera," he reports, "and a lot of times we'll just make something. While we were in Singapore we filmed stuff, and in Australia and different places. We're talking about cutting it together into a full-length film that kinda goes the length of the album."*

Read the rest of the article here.

MP3: Beastie Boys - So What'cha Want? (Remix Featuring Cypress Hill)

Jarvis Cocker Fuels Artery Reunion

Via Contact Music: *One of Jarvis Cocker's favourite bands, Artery, have decided to reform after a request from the Pulp frontman himself. The post-punk art rockers from Sheffield were asked to play at Jarvis' Meltdown festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

After their first gig for over 20 years, Artery have now decided to give it another go, all because of the influence wielded by the bespectacled genius. Mark Gouldthrope, frontman of Artery, said: "It was a shock to hear from Jarvis after all that time, but once he'd explained what he was up to we jumped at the chance to get involved. It's not every day you get asked to play the Royal Festival Hall.

"It was an amazing experience to be on stage again at such a brilliant venue, and now we've got the bug we're really excited about making some new music together." The band are now looking onwards and upwards, with a fifth album scheduled for later this year and the chance to tour again with their new-found energy. Artery produced four albums between 1983 and 1985 and influenced Jarvis a great deal during his youth.*

MP3: Artery - Afterwards (via The Stodge)

Jarvis Cocker: Pop Is Dead

Jarvis Cocker explained his views on modern day pop music to Radio Times this week. He has some very valid points. Some highlights from the interview are below.

"It saddens me because I love pop music and these shows prove that it's become an industrialised process. They never pick people with great voices. They pick people who show off how many notes they can fit into a 10-second period.

A great voice expresses something and gives you some idea of the personality behind the voice. There's zero personality in the voices of any of the people who sing on these shows. The kind of pop I was brought up on is over. The pop charts used to be where everything happened. Now the most interesting stuff is happening outside in the independent music sector."

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Jarvis Cocker Selects Jesus, Iggy & Clinic For Meltdown Fest

Oh, to be a curator. David Bowie got to curate the inaugural year of NYC's Highline Festival (going on as I type) and now Jarvis Cocker is coming forth to choose his favorite acts for the upcoming Meltdown Festival in London's Royal Festival Hall.

When Morrissey curated the show back in '04 he brought along The Libertines, Nancy Sinatra, Sparks and Loudon Wainwright III. The following year, Patti Smith brought Antony & The Johnsons, Cat Power, Beth Orton & Billy Bragg. Last year the venue was closed due to refurbishment but now, in its 14th go-round, former Pulp star and solo artist in his own right, Jarvis Cocker will be engaging in the selection process.

So far, he's doing a splendid job. Bands already confirmed for this year's shindig include: Iggy Pop & The Stooges, The 13th Floor Elevators, Jesus & The Mary Chain, Cornershop, Motorhead, Devo and Clinic. Not bad, eh? If previous years are any indication, the total number of performers will probably grow to twenty or so; we'll keep you upated as that news travels into our inboxes. For now, enjoy one of my favorite Clinic tunes below.

Learn more about the festival here on its official site.

MP3: Clinic - Circle Of Fifths

Introducing The 'Common People' Documentary

If you haven't already heard/seen, Pulp's mega-classic 'Common People' got an hour's worth of BBC airtime late last year in documentary format. Everybody from Jarvis's mum, radio DJs, fans, and the man himself, Mr. Cocker took part in the feature discussing the international anthem. Although it got its premiere months ago, it can now (for the first time) be seen in its full YouTube glory for our viewing pleasure. Here's part 1.


For parts 2 through 6, head to The Tripwire.

Jarvis Trips His Wire

One of my favorite blogs, The Tripwire, sat down with former Pulp frontman and solo artist in his own right, Jarvis Cocker for an extensive interview this week. Topics torn through include his shift in lyrical content (from getting laid to getting political), Harry Potter, Nancy Sinatra and of course, the current state of Britpop.

A highly worthwhile read, which can be found HERE!

Sample Jarvis quote: “If I wanted to make a Pulp record, I would have made one...once you decide to do something you might as well just do it and not think about it too much or things complicated."

He even DEFENDS constantly-irritable Liam Gallagher in the piece. When was the last time you heard of anybody doing that?

Jarvis Covers Ozzy In London!

BUT absolutely refuses to play any Pulp tunes...

Sigh. NME reports: Jarvis Cocker closed his Shockwaves NME Awards Show tonight (February 17) with a cover of Black Sabbath's heavy metal classic 'Paranoid'. The star wowed the crowd at his sold-out London Astoria show, which had earlier seen performances from Bat For Lashes and Annuals.

Cocker, whose set revolved mainly around tracks from his 2006 solo debut 'Jarvis', was in exuberant form, telling jokes and asking punters if they were going to the G.A.Y. nightclub taking place at the venue afterwards. The singer, backed by a five-piece band including former Pulp bassist Steve Mackey, also cheerfully dismissed a request to play his former band's classic single 'Common People', saying, "This band are not Pulp." The star also covered Talking Heads' 'Heaven' from their 1979 album 'Fear Of Music'.

MP3: Jarvis Cocker - The Lion & Albert (children's story read by Jarvis)

Javis Cocker To Visit The Common People!

By that, i mean A US TOUR!!!!

Dates:
04-23 New York, NY - Webster Hall
04-27 Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
04-28 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
04-30 Seattle, WA - Showbox
05-01 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore

Who's excited?? I am! I know you are! Woooo!!

MP3: Pulp - Mis-shapes

Cerys, Stuart & Jarvis: Doin' It For The Kids

Via NME: Jarvis Cocker, Cerys Matthews and Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch all feature on a new compilation of children's songs. 'Songs For The Young At Heart', released on February 26, was put together by members of Tindersticks. It was inspired by "memories from their childhood of music from the radio, school room and television".

The collection first comes in a limited edition run packaged in a hard paged children's book featuring the tale of 'Albert The Lion' with illustrations by cult artist Sexton Ming. A video of Jarvis Cocker telling the story of 'Albert The Lion' - where Cocker sits in an actual lion's cage with the lion - will also be available.

Tracklisting:
'Theme For The Young At Heart' - Stuart Staples
'Uncle Sigmund's Clockwork Storybook' - Sung by Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)
'Florence's Sad Song' - Sung by Stuart Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian)
'White Horses' - Sung by Cerys Mathews
'The Lion & Albert' - Told by Jarvis Cocker
'Robinson Crusoe' - Performed by Tindersticks
'Hushabye Mountain' - Sung by Stuart Staples
'Morningtown Ride' - Sung by Suzanne Osbourne
Inch Worm' - Sung by Kurt Wagner (Lambchop)
'Mary, Mungo & Midge' - performed by Tindersticks
'The Three Sneezes' - told by Martin Wallace
'Puff, The Magic Dragon' - Sung by 'Bonnie' Price Billy and Red
'Hey, Don't You Cry' - Stuart Staples

Intriguing! Somebody send a copy over to us as fast as you possibly can!

Jarvis's Ban Ended!

Guess who's coming back to The Brit Awards....

Via ContactMusic: JARVIS COCKER, once a geeky sex symbol of 90s Britpop and MICHAEL JACKSON antagoniser, is due to return to the BRIT AWARDS after being banned for over ten years. The stringy former PULP lead singer has been nominated for Best Male in the show – meaning Cocker will return to the awards ceremony for the first time since his infamous stage invasion in 1996.

Cocker appeared on stage as music legend Jackson was performing a slightly over-the-top version of EARTH SONG and appeared to mock the US singer. However, not everyone was amused, as the COMMON PEOPLE singer's protests against Jackson's "Christ-like" performance was too rock 'n' roll for some.

Former BLUR frontman DAMON ALBARN recently branded Cocker's antics as "disturbing". He said he didn't like it when the bespectacled singer "pulled his pants down" in front of Jacko. "That just seemed really wrong. If someone is sick, he's not open to ridicule," Albarn spouted.

Damon v. Jarvis, it's 1993 all over again. I LOVE IT!

MP3: Pulp - Babies

Open For Jarvis!

How awesome would that be?

All the details are spelled out below, via Jarvis's Myspace bulletin: Here goes.....

Nearly a fortnight in & we haven't spoken yet! So sorry - but I've been poorly again. At first I thought it was post-Xmas depression so I got rid of the tree but that didn't help, so I went to the doctor's - I mean I've gotta be 110% for these upcoming shows, right? Ah, that reminds me:

I need your help regarding these upcoming shows - I'd like to get interesting support acts from the locality of each concert & thought maybe you might have some suggestions. So if you know of good bands/performers in or around Milan, Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, Hamburg, Copenhagen or Stockholm please let me know. A link to some music might be useful & the performers MUST be local 'cos the promoters can't provide much of a fee for performing.

I know you guys have impeccable taste so I'll trust you not to recommend any stinkers. Oh, & you'll have to be quick about it 'cos the first concert is on the 18th!

Don't you just love a challenge?

2007 has officially begun xx Jarvis

jarvo strikes again...

...but not by pulling down his pants in front of Michael Jackson.

A long time ago, back in the day that I actually made regular posts to this here blog, I wrote on one of the seminal bands of 90's Britain - the mighty Pulp. Well, Jarvis Cocker has been away even longer than I have (although I bet he hasn't had to teach Latin), but aside from some monumentally awesome tracks on the Harry Potter soundtrack, we've had to wait for his solo record, Jarvis. And it's awesome. Melancholic, powerful, filthy... he's "going to kill again", and he's mourning the passing of summer. The fact that fat children took his life is just sad; points though, for mentioning Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

The boy from Sheffield still has it. Out on November 13th, you are going to want this. Oh yes indeedy.

Visit Jarvo's myspace here.

Jarvis Cocker - From a to i

800th Post: Jarvis Bitchslaps Razorlight And The Rapture

Yikes!

NME's cover story cites the following: "I've always liked people who mess up. I don't like career people - it doesn't seem very appropriate when it comes to music which is about something emotional. Reading an interview with Razorlight is just like reading 'The Economist', saying 'Yeah, well we're going to be really big in America and we think this album's going to follow up the next one' - that's what the record company should be saying, not the people in the band.

"And even The Rapture, who I like, there was an article about them I read which just seemed to be about them being managed by the same people who manage U2. I just thought 'Why do I want to know that?' That's not what music's about. I don't care who they're managed by. I don't care who makes their guitars. I don't care how many records they've sold, really, I just want to know whether they've got anything to say and whether they're interesting."

HIs long-awaited solo disc comes out next month... in the UK, only.

MP3: Pulp - Babies