Jarvis Cocker
Jarvis Cocker in concert, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Jarvis Branson Cocker
Born	19 September 1963 (1963-09-19) (age 44) Sheffield,  England
Genre(s)	Alternative Rock Indie Rock Britpop
Occupation(s)	Musician, Singer-songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist
Instrument(s)	Lead vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active	1978 - present
Associated acts	Pulp Relaxed Muscle

Jarvis Branson Cocker (born 19 September 1963) is an English musician, best known for fronting the band Pulp, and for his high-profile protest during Michael Jackson's performance at the 1996 BRIT Awards. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene Britpop is a subgenre of Alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A keyboardist is a Musician who plays Keyboard instruments Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Events January: May - The Bee Gees dominate the singles and album charts as Saturday Night Fever becomes a cultural phenomenon Pulp were an English Alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker ( vocals Guitar) Relaxed Muscle are a British electro duo formed in 2002 by Pulp 's Jarvis Cocker and Jason Buckle. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Pulp were an English Alternative rock band formed in Sheffield in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker ( vocals Guitar) Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards

Pulp

Cocker founded "Arabacus Pulp" (named after a tradeable commodity seen by Cocker in an economics class) at the age of 15 while he was still at The City School. The City School, Stradbroke Road Sheffield, England, was formerly known as City Grammar School (which operated from 1964 to 1969 at the present site and before After numerous line-up changes, and a shortening of the name to just "Pulp", they eventually found fame in the 1990s with the success of the albums His 'n' Hers (1994) and Different Class (1995). His 'n' Hers is a 1994 album by Pulp and is commonly cited as the band's breakthrough album Different Class is an album by English Britpop band Pulp. It was released in 1995 at the height of Britpop and led to the band being regarded

Cocker invaded the stage at the 1996 BRIT Awards in a spur of the moment protest against Michael Jackson's performance. The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29 1958 is an American musician entertainer and businessman Jackson performed surrounded by children and a rabbi, while making 'Christ-like' poses and performing his then-recent hit, "Earth Song". Rabbi (pronunciation, although in English usually) in Judaism, means a religious ‘teacher’ or more literally ‘my great one’ when addressing any master Christ is the English term for the Greek ( Khristós) meaning "the anointed " " Earth Song " is a song by Michael Jackson featured on Jackson's 1995 HIStory album Cocker and his friend Peter Mansell (a former Pulp member) performed an impromptu stage invasion in protest. Peter Mansell was the Bassist and sometime backing vocalist for the British rock band Pulp. In the ensuing confusion, as others attempted to eject Cocker from the stage, three child performers received minor injuries.

Cocker was later detained and interviewed by the police on suspicion of assault. He was subsequently released without charge. Opinions from the press on Cocker's actions were mixed. The March 2, 1996, edition of Melody Maker, for example, suggested Cocker should be knighted, and Cocker's friend Noel Gallagher, of Oasis fame claimed "Jarvis Cocker is a star and he should be given an MBE". Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly Music Newspaper Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967 in Manchester, England is the lead guitarist backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Oasis Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Gallagher is also quoted as saying of Jackson's behaviour "For Michael Jackson to come over to this country after what's all gone on - and I think we all know what I'm talking about here - to dress in a white robe, right, thinking he's the Messiah - I mean who does he think he is? Me?"^[1] However, other journalists and the organisers of the BRIT Awards were outraged by Cocker's behaviour. In response to the ensuing media scrutiny of the action, Cocker responded, "My actions were a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing. . . I just ran on the stage. . . I didn't make any contact with anyone as far as I recall. "^[2]

The resulting press attention saw the band's record sales soar and a waxwork statue of Jarvis Cocker, which costs £30,000, was placed in Rock Circus, London. As well, Cocker became a hero for a generation of young Brits who were disillusioned with the media circuses so prevalent in the pop music scene during the mid-90s, such as the alleged feud between Oasis and Blur. Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 Blur are an English Alternative rock band that formed in London in 1989

Cocker is also renowned for his wit and observations of the cultural scene. He was a frequent guest on TV shows in the 1990s, as well as hosting an arts series for the BBC - "Journeys into the Outside". Here he took a trip across the globe, meeting so-called "outsider artists", meeting people who create wacky and wonderful works of art and trying to understand what compels them to do so. Cocker's penchant for TV appearances was reflected in a song parody of Common People (Showbiz People) which featured on the satirical comedy show Spitting Image in 1996. " Common People " is a song by English Alternative rock band Pulp. Spitting Image was a British satirical Puppet show that ran on the ITV television network from 1984 to 1996

Cocker sang a duet, Ciao!, with Miki Berenyi on British shoegazing band Lush's 1996 album Lovelife. Miki Berenyi (born 18 March 1967, in London, UK) is a Singer who was formerly the lead singer of Lush. Shoegazing (also known as shoegaze or shoegazer) is a genre of Alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s Lush were an English Shoegazing band formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1996

He co-wrote several songs ("Walk Like A Panther", "1st Man in Space", "Drive Safely Darlin'", "Stars On Sunday", and "Happy Birthday Nicola") on The All Seeing I's album Pickled Eggs & Sherbet, released in 1999. The All Seeing I are an English electronic music group from Sheffield, comprising Dean Honer, Jason Buckle and DJ Parrot (real name Richard He contributed lead vocals to "Drive Safely Darlin'". He also performed live with The All Seeing I on Top Of The Pops singing 'Walk Like A Panther' in place of Tony Christie who sang on the recorded version. The All Seeing I are an English electronic music group from Sheffield, comprising Dean Honer, Jason Buckle and DJ Parrot (real name Richard Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, was a long-running British music chart Television programme, made and broadcast Tony Christie (born Anthony Fitzgerald, 25 April 1943) is an English male Singer from Conisbrough, South Yorkshire

Pulp released two more albums (This Is Hardcore and We Love Life) to critical acclaim, though neither achieved the commercial success of Different Class. This Is Hardcore is an album by English band Pulp, first released in March 1998. We Love Life is the seventh studio album by Pulp. Released on 22 October 2001 in the UK it was the band's last album before their current After releasing a greatest hits album the band are now on hiatus.

In 2001 he contributed "Everybody Loves The Underdog" to the soundtrack for Mike Bassett: England Manager. Mike Bassett England Manager is a 2001 satirical Comedy film directed by Steve Barron, following the fortunes of the manager

Beyond Pulp

Cocker has also directed some music videos, most notably On by Aphex Twin, Sudden Rush by Erlend Øye and Aftermath by Nightmares on Wax(All with Martin Wallace). A music video is a Short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music most commonly a Song with lyrics Erlend Øye is a Norwegian musician from Bergen, best known for being part of the pop duo Kings of Convenience together with Eirik Glambek Bøe Nightmares on Wax is DJ and musician George Evelyn (born c 1970 also known as DJ EASE (Experimental Sample Expert from Leeds, UK. He also made a very brief appearance in the music video for A Little More For Little You by Swedish rockers, The Hives. The Hives are a Swedish Rock band that first rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a leading group of the garage rock revival, playing Garage punk.

He re-emerged in 2003 to promote a new album, under the pseudonym "Darren Spooner", for his new band Relaxed Muscle. A pseudonym is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name (see Alias) Relaxed Muscle are a British electro duo formed in 2002 by Pulp 's Jarvis Cocker and Jason Buckle. Also in 2003, he appeared on the Richard X album Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol. 1. Richard Philips is a Record producer, best known by his Stage name Richard X. Richard X Presents His X-Factor Vol 1 is the debut Compilation album by British Bastard pop producer Richard X. 2004 then brought Cocker briefly back into the limelight with two collaborations with Nancy Sinatra on her new album, as well as a collaboration with Marianne Faithfull on her album Kissin' Time, with the song "Sliding through Life on Charm. Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City New Jersey) is an American Singer and actress. Marianne Faithfull (born December 29 1946) is an English Singer, Songwriter, actress and Diarist whose Kissin' Time is a 2002 studio album by veteran British musician Marianne Faithfull. "

In 2005 Cocker co-wrote three tracks ("La Degustation", "Basque Country" and "Fred de Fred") on French Sheffield-based electronic duo The Lovers' self-titled debut album. The Lovers are a French electronica/pop band based in Sheffield England, consisting of real-life lovers Fred de Fred and Marion Benoist That same year he also covered "I Can't Forget" by Leonard Cohen as part of the tribute show for the film Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man. Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man is a 2005 movie by Lian Lunson about the life and career of Leonard Cohen.

Cocker also contributed to the soundtrack for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, writing and performing three Electro tracks: "This is the Night", "Do The Hippogriff" and "Magic Works". Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 Fantasy Adventure Film, based on J Electro ( electro-boogie, electro-funk) is a Genre of Electronic music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 and Funk He appeared briefly in the film as lead singer of the band The Weird Sisters. The following are supporting characters in the Harry Potter series written by J The fictitious group also featured Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway from Radiohead, Steve Mackey from Pulp, Jason Buckle from Relaxed Muscle and Steve Claydon from Add N to (X). Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood (born 5 November 1971) is a BAFTA and Grammy -nominated musician and composer-in-residence for the BBC best Philip James Selway (born 23 May 1967) is the Drummer and Backing vocalist of English Alternative rock group Radiohead Steven Patrick "Steve" Mackey (born 10 November 1966) is a British Musician, best known for playing Bass guitar in the Jason Buckle (sometimes credited as JP Buckle) is a British Electronica artist from Doncaster, England. Add N to (X were a three-piece British band specializing in Electronic music performed on analogue Synthesizers, formed in London

In 2006 Cocker appeared on albums Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (song "I Just Came to Tell You That I'm Going", co-performed with Kid Loco) and Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys (song "A Drop of Nelson's Blood"). Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited is a Tribute album to the works of late French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Kid Loco, né Jean-Yves Prieur (born June 16 1964 in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French Musician, DJ, Remixer and Rogue's Gallery Pirate Ballads Sea Songs and Chanteys is a Compilation album of Sea shanties performed by a wide array of artists ranging from His song "Running the World" appeared over the closing credits of the film Children of Men. Children of Men is a 2006 dystopian Science fiction Film co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Also in 2006, along with Steve Mackey, he 'curated' the 2-CD Compilation, The Trip, which featured a wide selection of tracks by artists as varied as The Fall, Gene Pitney, The Beach Boys, and The Polecats. Steven Patrick "Steve" Mackey (born 10 November 1966) is a British Musician, best known for playing Bass guitar in the The Fall are an English Post-punk band formed in Prestwich, Greater Manchester in 1976 Gene Francis Alan Pitney ( February 17 1940 &ndash April 5 2006) was an American Singer and Songwriter. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture The Polecats were a new wave and Rockabilly revival band in the late 1970s and early 1980s He also co-wrote lyrics on the Charlotte Gainsbourg album 5:55, with Neil Hannon and members of Air. Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (born 21 July or 22 July 1971 is a British-French actress and singer 555 is the second Album by French Musician and Actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Neil Hannon (born 7 November 1970) is a Singer and Songwriter, best known as the creator (in 1989 and Frontman of the orchestral AIR is a French (from region Île-de-France) music duo consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. On October 12th 2006, a fictional Jarvis Cocker was a lead character in a drama on BBC Radio 2, as part of their 'Imagine' competition.

DJ Jarvis. Cocker putting a palazzo through its paces during the opening week of the 2005 Venice Bienniale

At the 2006 reading festival the video for 'running the world' was played on the main video screens of the main stage before the headline act muse performed, the video containing karaoke style lyrics to the song which encouraged the crowd to sing along. For other meanings (eg the word's use in place names see Palazzo (disambiguation. In Greek mythology, the Muses ( Ancient Greek, hai moũsai: perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root * men- "think" are (kɑːrɑːˌoʊkɛ in Japanese karaoke) is a form of Entertainment in which Amateur Singers sing along with recorded Music (and/or a

Cocker is now following a solo career — his debut album, Jarvis, came out in the UK on November 13, 2006. Jarvis (also known as The Jarvis Cocker Record) is the debut solo album by Pulp vocalist and musician Jarvis Cocker, released in the UK Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In March 2007 he appeared on French band Air's new album Pocket Symphony. AIR is a French (from region Île-de-France) music duo consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. Pocket Symphony is the fifth full-length Album by French duo Air.

On Valentine's Day 2007, he was chosen to give the award for Best British Newcomer (awarded to the Fratellis) at the Brit Awards. Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a Holiday celebrated on February 14 Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Fratellis are an Alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland.

Cocker and Beth Ditto (The Gossip) recently collaborated on a cover version of the classic 80s track Temptation by Heaven 17 at the NME Awards in London. Beth Ditto (born 19 February 1981 in Arkansas) is an American Singer for the Indie rock band The Gossip. Gossip (also known as GOXXIP or sometimes GSSP) is a three piece US Indie rock band Heaven 17 are a British Synthpop band originating from the city of Sheffield in the early 1980s The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a Popular music Magazine in the United Kingdom which has been

He curated the 2007 Meltdown Festival at the South Bank Centre in London. Meltdown is an annual English festival held in London, featuring a mix of music art performance and film Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues located in London, UK, on the South Bank of the River Thames between County Hall The acts he chose include Motorhead Roky Erickson and the Explosives with Clinic, Devo with Drumsize, Iggy & The Stooges, Cornershop and The Jesus and the Mary Chain. ^[3]

In March of 2008 Jarvis made a small tour of Latin America (México, Argentina and Chile) where he presented a new song called "Girls Like It Too". Mexico State or State of Mexico (often abbreviated to " Edomex " from Estado de México in Spanish) is a state in the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the

Jarvis Cocker plans to release a new studio album in 2008, and has revealed the names of two tracks set for the record. Speaking to NME. com, he said that he had written "Girls Like It Too" and "The Usual" and hoped to have enough material to record the follow-up to his solo debut soon. [1] "I've got vague ideas," he said of the forthcoming LP. "I'd like to do another album before the end of the year. "

On 06/06/2008 Tony Christie announced he was recording songs for a new album with Alex Turner and Jarvis Cocker.

Personal life

Cocker was born in Sheffield. Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England Cocker's father, Mac Cocker, a DJ and actor, left the family and moved to Sydney, Australia, when Jarvis was seven and had no contact with him or his sister thereafter, leaving them to be brought up by their mother, now a Tory councillor in Sheffield. Mac Cocker was a Radio broadcaster based in Darwin, Australia. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A councillor or councilor ( Cllr, Coun, Clr or Cr for short is a member of a Local government council such as a

Jarvis Cocker credits his upbringing almost exclusively in female company for his interest in how women think and what they have to say. He wrote a song ("A Little Soul" on This Is Hardcore) about being abandoned by his father, and in 1998 traveled with his sister to Australia to meet him for the first time in nearly 30 years. This Is Hardcore is an album by English band Pulp, first released in March 1998. Mac Cocker had a successful radio DJ career in Sydney beginning with Double J in the seventies and then Triple J in the eighties, and did not counter a common impression there that he was Joe Cocker's brother or cousin (despite both being from Sheffield, they are not related in any way). Mac Cocker was a Radio broadcaster based in Darwin, Australia. Jeffrey "Jeff" Leonard Jarrett (born April 14, 1967) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Triple J is a nationally-networked government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) mainly aimed Joe Cocker OBE (born 20 May 1944 is an English rock / Blues Singer who came to popularity in the 1960s and is most known for his gritty By the time of Jarvis Cocker's visit, Mac Cocker had moved to a hippie commune in Darwin, Northern Territory. Mac Cocker was a Radio broadcaster based in Darwin, Australia. The Hippie Subculture was originally a Youth movement that began in the United States during the early 1960s and spread around the world Jarvis says he has forgiven his father for abandoning them. "I don't feel any bitterness towards him at all. I feel sorry for him. "^[4][5]

Cocker has lived in Paris since 2003, with his wife, Camille Bidault-Waddington, and his son, Albert. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city ^[6]

Discography

See Pulp and Relaxed Muscle for their respective discographies

Albums

• Jarvis (November 13, 2006) #37 UK
• TBA 2008

Singles

from Jarvis

• "Running the World" (download only)
• "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" (January 8, 2007) UK #36, UK Indie #1
• "Fat Children" (July 16, 2007) UK #158

non-album single

• "Temptation (Live)" (Beth Ditto & Jarvis Cocker) (February 18, 2008) UK #148

Others

• Songs for the Young at Heart (2007) - contributed a reading of The Lion and Albert

References

External links

• Jarvis Cocker released his last album, Jarvis, on Rough Trade/Worlds Fair
• Jarvspace - Jarvis Cocker's Myspace page (created 3 July 2006)
• Jarvis Cocker's record label and management company in UK
• World's Fair label group releases "Jarvis" the album in USA, 4 April 2007
• Jarvis Cocker's stage invasion at the 1996 Brit Awards (text)
• Review of Jarvis Cocker's debut London solo gig at Koko (15 November 2006)
• Jarvis Cocker on Desert Island Discs
• Jarvis Cocker's Music Video for 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time' + interview with director Dougal Wilson.
• Jarvis Cocker - Live set at Inrocks Festival 2006, Paris (dab radio broadcast).
• Short story review of Jarvis at The Wheel's Still In Spin
• Jarvis Cocker on Flickr