Well you know that I regularly keep in touch with Mark at his various film thingies. I first met him in March 1998 when he did Little Stabs at Happiness at the ICA. I remember being really nervous and then I saw him smoking and being a little shocked by that. I remember lighting his cigarette and when the event was closing down I went up to talk to him, but I got caught up in a misunderstanding about the price of a bottle of nail varnish and getting too embarressed to speak to him. However as I was just leaving, he came out of the ICA theatre. He was wearing a blue jumper, the same colour as his eyes, and I thanked him for the evening and shook his hand. His hand was quite warm and rather smooth, considering he'd been playing guitar for about I think, 10 years or so by then. I left the ICA with a warm glow, undisturbed even by the drunk bloke who fell asleep on me on the night bus home.

I also met Jarvis there in 1999 and I talked to him about his "Outsider Artists" programme. I can remember the film as well that night, it was The Wicker Man. Jarvis has a big blob of shaving foam hanging off his ear, so I sneeked up behind him and whisked it off. He spun round and I rather sheepishly should him the resulatant emulsion on my finger.

Interesting way to meet someone.

Steve was also at Little Stabs one night, ironically it was one night that Mark wasn't there. I think he was at the Shanghai Stabs that night. Anyway, Steve was very nice to me, I asked him about Marley and he said something about taking him to Leeds castle or something. I think he'd started going out with Katie Grand around that time and I think I may have called her Zoe (Marley's mum's name) by accident, because I didn't know.

Just before I went to Uni, in 1999, Jarvis was holding a sort of birthday gig at that September's Stabs and Candida was there, but I think I offended her by waving a camera in her face.
Oops.

I didn't mean to, and I'm very sorry for it. I just wanted to talk to her about her cousin Max, who I had been to sixth form college with.

Haven't met Russell, but did stand right in front of him at the Venini gig at the Falcon in again, 1999.

Was going to meet Richard Hawley when he played at the RFH in 2010, as some of the Hawley forum members where congragating in the atrium, but unfortunately he'd been whisked off because he was doing The Andrew Marr show, early the next morning.

I've went to see Jarvis & Steve djing at Lux, in Lisbon (the only time they came to Lisbon, even Pulp, the entire band never came here...), I think it was 2004, or 2005? I'm not sure Anyway, Jarvis signed my His n'Hers record. He wrote my name, then "suits you " then I think it's an "L", but I'm not sure, then "Jarvis Cocker,  XX", I suppose 

I'm not really into this, asking for autographs. But it felt nice looking at him from bellow - he's really tall - and so close and keep a signed copy of my all time favourite band.

-- Edited by glosslip on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 11:39:28 AM

Is that all Sarah? You mean you haven't met Magnus Doyle or Jamie Pinchbeck? You're just not putting the effort in are you?

None. Too socially awkward.

I met Nick and his wife at Jarvis's first solo show at Plug, through a friend. Nick seemed a little guarded and i was a bit surprised. Must have been weird seeing Jarvis in Sheffield and not being on stage with him though. His wife was lovely. And as I said elsewhere I was at Steve Mackey's stag do at Glasto in 2009 following Jarvis's gig, but only met Simon Stafford as I'm friends with his partner. He was very friendly.

Wickerman wrote:

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Indeed, Mark knows what it is to be a real fan and want the band to do some nice things, so I guess that's why he's so open about it. He lived the fan's dream: joining the band you love.

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 That is pretty awesome when you stop to think about it.

 

And Liltman, who is Simon Stafford?

I met all of them many years ago at a signing in San Francisco in 1996.  They were all very sweet and took the time to say hello, shake hands, personalize the autographs, etc.  They were there for hours, the line was crazy.  The next day while in line for the show at Bimbo's, Russell walked by and stopped to chat with us for a bit.   Candida wore the shirt we gave her on stage that night, which was quite nice.  The next day in L.A. is when we got to interview Russell and watch soundcheck which I've mentioned before (Jarvis was wildly ill from some Hawaiian flu or something but thankfully managed to make it through the show). 


More recently I have been too paralyzed by fear and etiquette to approach them, though I did manage to say hi to Nick at Brixton; he was very cheerful and kind... 

It's pretty easy to meet any band at a club show if you have the stamina/inclination to wait around at the stage door for hours (either before soundcheck or after the show).  Of course, there's always the chance that the band members won't stop, as Sleeve mentioned, but I would think there must be a good reason if they don't (next engagement, business stuff, grumpiness, exhaustion, etc).

OK...

First one was Russell in the lounge of a Sheffield guesthouse in September 1997. Bit of an awkward meeting (gauche and nervous 18-year-old has summit with somewhat prickly ex-pop star recently separated from a well-known group... you can probably imagine how it went), but we stayed in touch and crossed paths on good terms quite a few times subsequently - notably around the Venini period, and then in Sheff a few times around 04/05.

Nick for the book in 2002 - absolute gent, couldn't have been more helpful and affable. Also very nicely came along to the book launch, and found myself standing next to him at the first Artery comeback gig in about '08.

Candida briefly at the Jarvis / Stunt Kites gig at Sheffield City Hall in '03. Short but sweet - she'd read the book!

And lastly, Mark in Sheffield earlier this year. Highly enjoyable miniature Pulp trainspotter's convention.

And the ex-members - probably not as many as you'd expect from reading the book as a lot of those interviews were phoners, but at one time or another I've managed to rack up Jon Short, Wayne Furniss, Peter Dalton, Jim Sellars, Saskia, Peter Boam, David Hinkler, Simon Hinkler, Tim Allcard, Magnus Doyle and Stephen Havenhand (think that's all of them!).

Oh, and Hawley came to the book launch too, had a nice chat with him at the end of the night.

Am I right in thinking Nick used to have a pub in Sheffield? Still does?

Did anyone ever go there and was he in?

Oh I certainly don't think the lyrics are about her! Like you say, it would just be that her name fitted the song or something

I remember the shaving foam story ... A girl I knew back then, Dominique, wrote about it in Pulp People. I was so jealous!

No she had dark brown hair, was rather tall and had hands exactly the size of Jarvis'es. She was also double jointed. and austrian.

I don't know this story but I'm imagining you rushing Jarvis during some kind of official ceremony and the proceedings halting so he could sign your album cover.   Fantastic. 

I met Nick and Richard Hawley in the Washington in 1999/2000. I was introduced to them by someone I know from a clothes shop in Sheffield. They both signed my copy of Intro though Richard kept apologising because he didn't perform on the album. I also met Richard's wife. She was lovely.

I interviewed Steve once on the phone and I have seen him at gigs a few times. At Auto my friend to a picture of Erland Oye over Steve's shoulder. He noticed and scarpered probably thinking she was taking a picture of him (she didn't actually recognise him). The same friend didn't recognise Ross Noble at Brixton the other night! I also saw Steve with his son watching the Flaming Lips at Wireless '06 and I have also seen Steve at St Pancras. I think it was the day after Auto. I didn't really meet him on any occassion.

It's a shame that Pulp don't do any signings any more. It would be great for those of us who are too shy to approach them for autographs.

I met part of Pulp back in 2002 when they were on vacation in Greece, that was i think for Jarvis' Wedding.

July 2002: i just got off a big ferry to visit on the little islands that are so beautiful. I think that was Hydra island. Anyway, i begin my walk in the little town, and someone wearing a military jacket walks by. He looks familiar. For one second i stop and i tell my dad: "wait, i know this guy, i'm pretty sure it's Jarvis Cocker". I turn around, and there he was sat with Steve and two women. I thought i gotta go and say hello, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. So i walk toward him, and we start chatting. He was absolutely nice, not annoyed at all, even pretty happy to chat really (Steve... not so much). The funny thing was that HE was asking questions about me, not the other way around. We chat for a bout 2 or 3 mins then i ask for a picture and say i dont wanna bother him too much. Picture taken, bye, see you around. and that's it. It's pretty odd encounter i'll remember all my life. You expect to run into him in Paris or London, not on some lost island in Greece in the middle of nowhere. I'll try and post the pic if i can find it on my old computer.

PS: his wife seemed like such an unfriendly person.

-- Edited by andy on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 07:15:20 AM

Amazing story Andy! I'm sure his wife was just having a bad day, or - you know when your in town with a friend say and they bump into someone they know that you don't and they're chatting away and you're just standing there feeling a bit awkward? Well I reckon it must feel like that all the time if your dating/married to a celebrity.

Re: Steve at Auto - myself and Scotty asked one of the door staff to ask him to come over to sign a flyer, he just said no and walked off.

Yes, I did sell my signed "Master of the Universe" 12" when I was short on cash a few years back

weener wrote:

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well i sat in front of jarvis at a belle and sebastien gig at union chapel - i had to move

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Wow, that must have been what, 1997? Fantastic. Somehow I never had Jarvis down as a Belle and Sebastian fan!

I've met Jarvis twice. Met him near Rough Trade East when he was doing the in-store for Further Complications. We had a chat but I kept off music and pulp because he probably hates talking about that to every single person he meets. We discussed where you can find a good Indian Restaurant in Paris, he helped me out a lot there but I can't remember where it was anymore. He said someone plays Sitar in the corner but sometimes they get a bit carried away.

I bumped into him again in Barcelona when he was playing Primavera, he actually started the conversation by saying "oh it's you again" and we spoke about how I wouldn't go see him in Manchester because it clashed with Leonard Cohen, something like that. He also wanted to know how I got in the band hotel without being in a band, it took a while to convince him I was with Low and not just following them round.

Nice chap both times, but he seemed well pissed off with some of the people bothering him.

I first met Jarvis in 1998, out side the royal cort in liverpool. I waited in the sleet/snow for about 2 hours, with a couple of randoms. That guy who was on stars in thier eyes came out first and i nearly jumped him lol - but obviously noticed he wasnt jarvis lol. He told me about his band (was it Bingo?) ect...then Jarvis came out. I went shy completly, but he came over to me and asked if i was 'al' right?' lol - we spoke for a minute or two and he signed my ticket. I was high as a kite for a week.

I then met candida, and mark and jarvis at that gig in edinbough..queens hall or somthing? 1999? i gave Candida my ring i was wearing and she wore it for the show.

I then met Mark and candida and nick at London the keep calm gig in 2000. They liked my home made pulp tshirt outside the gig (after it) and invited me to sit in the van they were in. There was some banter about how i might rob the seat i was sitting on. (im a scouser) all very friendly ect. I got all thier autograpghs.

I then met Jarvis again outside Sheffied octagan twice, once before the gig (he was carrying his shopping to the venue in the middle of the afternoon!!) and then after it - he was super friendly and knew 'of me' "hey i know youuu"...haha - i think id been to 3 of pulp gigs durring that week he was probably sick of the sight of me. I think i met mark and candida again at this gig, but it *might* have been another northan city...they came out midafternoon during sound check with some sandwitches and a chat to the fans
Ive also had one ciggy and 2 beers from jarvis while he's been performing.
Ive been to nicks pub too, there was some aftershow party there i think somtime in 2001/2?? me and 2 other hardcore pulp fans ALMOST got in. (jody foster and janine fox?) but Alex let the side down ;) lmao.

-- Edited by Rachel on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 09:38:39 PM

Met Jarvis a couple of times and Steve too. Both were very polite, patient and well mannered. Top blokes! I suprised Jarvis didn't get pissed off with me tapping him on the shoulder and saying hello (maybe he did - but he didn't show it).

Meeting Jarvis at the Opera House 2005

The first time I met Jarvis was outside the Sydney Opera House 2005. He was out here for the Leonard Cohen tribute show alongside Nick Cave, Beth Orton, all of the Wainrights etc etc. I took the train from Newcastle as I was a Uni at the time and was just hanging around sitting on the steps waiting for time to pass. I see this mini van pull up and out gets Nick Cave, Beth Orton, a driver and Jarvis. Now I think this was around the time when Pulp were kind of forgotten about....the reason I say that is - after wandering up to him and asking him to sign my Sisters EP and have a photo he just seemed a little embarresed..... but he did say the EP was old and did write on it 'Kristen - Listen Luv Jarvis'. And Nick Cave took the photo which when I relay this story, people say why didnt you ask for Nicks photo or signature.... It was really odd thinking back about it now. They were just sitting at the bottom of the stairs just waiting.... It was dead exciting though, catching the late train back from Sydney and thinking how I just met Jarvis f**king Cocker. EPIC.

Jarvis 2009 Australian Tour - The Gov, Adelaide

Did 4 shows and flew to Adelaide with a friend. The venue was a small pub called The Gov and I saw them pull up. As we were waiting around for the show, we saw Steve head to the bar and thought its now or never - so we bounded up to him and asked him how Martin Craft got to have the coolest guitar gig in the world! Martin Craft used to be in an Australian band called Sidewinder who were fantastic! Steve was lovely and chatted with us for about 5 mins waiting for his drinks and signed some stuff and we got a photo with him. Lovely guy.

Pulp 2011 Australian Tour - Festival Hall, Melbourne

Waiting after the Melbourne gig, it was freezing, but we waited and waited and out came Jarvis sometime after midnight to chat with what fans were left. He was lovely and signed my This is Hardcore 12" and got a photo. I think Ive told the story in epic detail in my reviews of their Australian shows a few months back.

It has been lovely reading all of your encounters with the band.

When I was in Sheffield I did make my way outside Nicks Pottery shop, but chickened out at the last minute and stood in the bus stop pointing my camera in his shops direction - I had this huge speech prepared saying he should get the band back together......maybe he saw me that day and felt sorry for me - and thought well shes come all this way just to stand in a bus shelter.....

-- Edited by cutcopy on Friday 9th of September 2011 08:33:05 AM

If you're interested? Russell was a fairly regular visitor to the Leadmill in early 1994 when I frequented the club every weekend. I always found him very approachable and we had many a chat about Pulp and music in general. I was at the aftershow party at the City Hall, Sheffield 95 and met most of the band again there, including the strange experience of having Mark come up to me and ask me if I'd seen Nick around! It was at this night while talking to Russell that I got the impression he wasn't as happy as he used to be in Pulp. I was saying how much I used to enjoy O.U. live and was sad they didn't play it anymore when he made a remrak about the age of Pulp's current audience and from that point I felt the writing was on the wall for him. Never really met them again after that but have seen Jarvis wandering around Sheffield a coupla times etc. when he came down to DJ after ending that great gig on the Rough Trade tour in '09 where they segued from Discosong into his DJ set.

I love weeners stories!!!! eeeeeeeee!

Pye wrote:

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Ian wrote:

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Re: Steve at Auto - myself and Scotty asked one of the door staff to ask him to come over to sign a flyer, he just said no and walked off.

Yes, I did sell my signed "Master of the Universe" 12" when I was short on cash a few years back

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 I think i own your record!!! did it say, Ian you are the master love jarvis

 

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 You certainly do!

Met Jarvis, Steve, Nick, Candida and Mark in 2002 before a gig in Sweden.

Some local Pulp fans had made a little Pulp-marquee with a few chairs, a small pulp-banner and cd player in the festival area. A nice area to just sit and listen to Pulp and talk to fellow fans inbetween gigs.

A few of us were there chatting when we suddenly saw Mark walk past with a video camera. He seemed amused to see we'd made a small pulp-gathering, filmed us, and kept walking. A few minutes later he came back and started chatting with us. He was really lovely, signed a few things, and probably hung around for 15-20 minutes or so. He also said he'd mention us to the rest of the band, and that they might come by later.

And a couple of hours before their own concert suddenly Mark came back, bringing Nick, Steve and Candida. They were really friendly, and chatted with everybody. Then after a little while Jarvis also appeared.

My boyfriend got his shoe signed (!?) by Mark ("stay clean") and his vintage shirt signed by Steve (who didn't want to ruin the shirt by writing on it). Jarvis signed my top ("to xxx, This is it! Jarvis xxx")

They probably stayed 30-40 minutes or so. Really lovely meeting them.

Never met any of Pulp. To be honest, I wouldn't know what to say to any of them if I did, but I think I'd try and make the effort for Russell.

Nearest I came was earlier this year. The 'Independent Record Store Day' was on in London (not the thing where records get flogged for high prices) and Darren Hayman was, we knew, in Soho helping to flog stuff for Fortuna! Pop! We bought a record and had a chat and saw the Rough Trade stall, too. Picked up a copy of the Angela 7", then went to a nearby pub and started talking about how amazing Jarvis looked on the cover...

...and then looked up. And there he was in brown shirt and purple velvet suit, as large as life. He looked amazing. He was chatting to some Rough Trade people and they were thanking him for coming down. He said he was off to Paris and they asked how he was getting there. This was for the Toulouse gig. Myself and Jen were shaking somewhat by this point but the thing that put me off standing up and asking to shake his hand and saying, y'know, "thanks for everything" was that his right hand was holding onto a bag and I didn't want to inconvenience him. How stupid of me. I wish I'd done it now.

In a list of some rather odd people I've met: the Beatles' first manager, Alan Williams, three elderly gents who used to be in the pre-Beatles band, The Quarrymen, had a few chats with Darren Hayman over the years, chatted with Stuart Murdoch once, once spent an enjoyable hour or so in the pub with former Doctor Who, Colin Baker, and once had a bit of a row with John Lennon's sister!

What did Candida make of the book, Mark...?

Stephen wrote:

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What did Candida make of the book, Mark...?

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She was very nice about it - said something about how she'd been reading it in France (she'd just been off travelling) and it had brought back some happy memories. She also said she'd been using it to work out when it was she first saw Pulp.

Details! Did he feed you tea and oranges?

''Lad''? He's old enough to be your dad isn't he?!

John Lennon's sister, Julia Baird, was flogging copies of her book "Growing Up With My Brother" at a 'do' at Liverpool's Adelphi hotel the other year. I had enjoyed her book and told her so. I also told her how much I'd enjoyed the 'Nowhere Boy' film of her/John and their mother's life. Oh dear. She wasn't keen on that. She was not keen on that film at all. "Well, I hope it never happens to you, having your family pulled apart like that in a film and there's nothing you can do about it" being one remark. Can't imagine she enjoyed the sexualisation of her beloved mother much.

She got fiery and fiery as I kept digging myself further into a hole. Because she looks so much like her brother anyway, it reminded me of the times when you see Lennon kicking off at journalists in old videos.

I was substantially shaken.

Damon Albarn's not that old...

fredthe3rd wrote:

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Damon Albarn's not that old...

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 For some reason I was going on about Leonard Cohen. I am often half asleep and forgot I even mentioned Damon.

Fantastic stories everyone! I'm so jealous! I'd love to meet Jarvis, although I'd probably make a tit of myself by not thinking of anything clever to say...but it's stories like these that inspire me to continue to try to become a music journalist...after all, I do have a journalism degree!

Jarvis didn't give her a glare and say ''Fail'' did he?

According to her he just looked at her like she was a crazy person and then she was yanked away.

And yes, she is still my friend, although how you could get Damon Albarn and Jarv mixed up is beyond me!

My closest encounter was having one of my emails (about Wilco) read out on the Sunday Service, so I have that to thank for having a ringtone of Jarvis saying my name.