Pulp made their UK live comeback tonight (June 11) at the Isle Of Wight Festival, playing a triumphant set before headliners Foo Fighters on the Main Stage of the event.
Jarvis Cocker and co, who played the Primavera Sound festival in Spain earlier this month for their first big-scale comeback gig, played hits including ‘Disco 2000’ and ‘Common People’ – with the singer noting how long they’d been away from the live scene.
He joked that the band had last played in the UK on “11 June, 1981” – when in fact their last UK gig was in 2002. “But we’re better now,” he added. “And there are more people here.” Later he showed off his knowledge of the Isle Of Wight, referring to the locals as “caulkheads” – a term meaning a native of the island.
Cocker also delved into his memory to recall his first visit to the island, telling the audience: “I went to [family attraction] Blackgang Chine as a child and now I return as a man, of sorts.” It wasn’t all cosy memories though – the frontman danced seductively throughout the show and peeled off his jacket and tie, stripper style, while stood on a platform.
He later sarcastically explained of set-closer ‘Common People’: “I hear this was the first dance at the Royal Wedding a couple of months ago.”
With their first comeback gigs under their belts the Britpop veterans are now set for a summer packed with more shows. In the UK they will headline Wireless in London on July 3, T In The Park in Scotland on July 10 and the Reading And Leeds Festivals on August 27 and 28.
