Pulp keyboardist Candida Doyle has seemingly confirmed that the band will not be performing at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, revealing that the event organizers are “not interested” in booking them. Speculation had circulated that the Sheffield band might appear in one of the festival’s secret slots, listed as “TBA” or under the mysterious name Patchwork.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pulp’s memorable headline set at Glastonbury in 1995, when they famously replaced The Stone Roses after guitarist John Squire sustained an injury. Reflecting on this milestone, Doyle told BBC Radio 6 Music: “We wanted to, just because it’s the 30th anniversary and that kind of thing, and they weren’t interested. And then we were thinking maybe next year, and then they’re not doing it next year.”
Lead singer Jarvis Cocker had earlier suggested in an April interview with BBC Radio 2 that Pulp would only perform at Glastonbury under a “life or death situation.” He also mentioned the possibility of DJing on the Stonebridge stage instead.
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The news follows Pulp’s recent achievement of securing their first UK number one album in 27 years with their eighth studio release, More. Since their formation in 1978, Pulp endured years of modest success with early albums It (1983), Freaks (1987), and Separations (1992), before breaking through during the 1990s Britpop era. Their 1994 hit “Do You Remember The First Time?” brought them initial chart success, followed by the acclaimed His ‘N’ Hers album.
The band’s 1995 breakthrough came with the iconic single “Common People” and the album Different Class, which solidified their place in British music history alongside their landmark Glastonbury appearance.
Currently, Pulp consists of Jarvis Cocker (vocals), Candida Doyle (keyboards), Nick Banks (drums), and Mark Webber (guitar). Over their career, they have achieved five UK top 10 singles and two number one albums.
Requests for comment from Glastonbury Festival organizers have not yet been responded to, as reported by the Press Association.