‘People think fame is a magic wand’: Jarvis Cocker on old songs, young fans and his granny’s verdict on Pulp

The Guardian Culture Friday 11 September 2026, 04:00 UTC By Rebecca Nicholson 1 min read

Key Points

Before the release of a joyful film on the history of the Sheffield band, frontman Cocker and director Garth Jennings talk dark times, taking inspiration from Abba – and why there could yet be another recordWhen the director Garth Jennings first moved to Paris, Jarvis Cocker, who was living there, dropped in on his old friend. “And I nearly got you arrested,” the Pulp frontman recalls. It was bonfire night, and Cocker had taken some welcoming fireworks over to Jennings’ place.

When the director Garth Jennings first moved to Paris, Jarvis Cocker, who was living there, dropped in on his old friend. “And I nearly got you arrested,” the Pulp frontman recalls. It was bonfire night, and Cocker had taken some welcoming fireworks over to Jennings’ place. “It turned out Garth’s apartment was quite near to the – not an army base, but what’s it called?”

“The École Militaire,” says Jennings.

Jarvis Cocker (PERSON) Pulp Before (ORG) Sheffield (LOCATION) Cocker (ORG) Garth Jennings (PERSON) Abba (PERSON) Paris (LOCATION) Pulp (ORG) Jennings (PERSON) Garth (PERSON)

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