Stephen wrote:

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Lauren, I don't think that's necessarily fair. I've willingly paid the £200 for Glastonbury before now, and this isn't a huge amount more - the £322 amount of whatever it is. Plus, all the food's free I believe, which probably brings it in line with Glastonbury. I don't think I earn a great deal (and I used to earn even less!) but having a festival (whether in a shitty field or on a luxury liner) as your one holiday of the year is probably affordable unless you're earning something really exploitative.

I'm not trying to have a go, it's just that not everyone there is going to horrible, moneyed people...

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 Someone earlier said something about tickets going for up to $9000. Admittedly, I didn't go on the website to check but now I have the cheapest avaible is $700 in total (although that's if you book with three other people). Most of the tickets are going for over $1000 which in my eyes isn't affordable at all. Most of the people I know don't earn enough to have even a "one holiday of the year". I'm not saying anyone is "horrible" I'm just saying it seems at odds with the Pulp ethos. I don't dislike Pulp for this nor would am I disapointed in them. Hey, if they're anything like my parents who are the same age they probably love a good cruise :P My gut reaction is just it's a little disheartening that they'll sing about class warfare to people who paid $1000 a pop.

 

Very surprised by this. I'm thinking the same as Mike, Lauren, anet, saw et al. And yeah, Sheffield, though I'm not going as I don't have the money to spare to travel for that even, would've been a nice way to finish up.

I'm not sure I particularly like the idea, especially if it's the last shows they do. Ending it all with a two-week cruise to Jamaica, with tickets starting at $1,100 doesn't really entwine in with what Pulp have stood for over the last 30 years. I can totally understand that they're probably being paid a lot of money to do it, and hey why not if it's their last show! Take the money and run sort of thing, but it just rankles that it may well be the last ever live memory people have of Jarvis and Co.

I don't understand all the negativity towards this. I'd definitely go if I could afford it. Even if it is full of rich old people this could be Pulp's opportunity to branch out and get even more fans. The longer Pulp go on touring and getting worldwide recognition the better. If any band deserves it, its them.

Fran wrote:

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This LA Times article is a bit more analytical about the whole rock music cruise thing:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-goldenvoice-cruise-20120718,0,2197192.story

"Cruises have become a trend of late in the music industry. Music-themed voyages are now a healthy segment of the live-music business. Once the province of ABBA cover bands and smooth jazz acts, artists as diverse as Kid Rock,KISS and R. Kellyhave jumped aboard the movement. And now that fans who were weaned on Coachella have reached their 30s and 40s, a cruise themed around alternative bands such as Weezer is a moneymaking proposition. The fast-rising electronic scene even boasts a cruise, the sold-out Holy Ship!"

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Ooo! Kid Rock! Kiss! R. Kelly! Weezer!  

What do all these groups have in common? Fratboys!

Look, if Pulp were 2nd or 3rd billed beneath any of the above, this might work. But as headliners? On a North American cruise? No way! Pulp's fanbase aren't really the tanning-bed set.

I really hope Pulp withdraw, or pull some massive publicity stunt to make a mockery of the whole cruise liner event.

Wouldn't it be great if they snubbed the Festival at the 11th hour, hired a crappy old boat, filled it with cheap beer and spirits, and invited all of their genuine fans onto it for a proper small party, pirate radio style?!

Go on Pulp, there's more value in the potential publicity and pride, rather than in the pay cheque from the cruise liner gig!

I really think this thing is going to fall flat on its face anyway. Look at the poster for god's sake - Pulp's name just looks ludicrous on top given the design screams 18-30 booze cruise. Their is atotal mis-match between the entertainment and the target audience.

I just hope Pulp jump ship before the whole thing sinks.

Awesome, there's PJ Harvey in the line-up. Oh wait, it's DJ Harvey.

Love the video Fred posted...

This is basically a summation of what others have been saying, but my problems with this whole thing:

1. I don't like the continued association with Coachella, since Pulp just played the festival, and didn't even get a headline slot on land; also I feel like Coachella has devolved over the last few years (we've discussed this before, brochella and all that...). I guess the Coachella people are confident enough in their brand that they think people will pay to attend regardless of the bands...I'm sure they have done their research, anyway. Personally, I'm confused about what kind of audience they are expecting...will there really be people on the cruise that don't already know Pulp?? Are there Hot Chip fans who will be willing to pay this much to see them on a cruise when they're already touring fairly extensively right now?

2. Cost, obviously...if you're willing/able to share a room with 3 other people it's $700 per person PLUS R/T airfare to Ft. Lauderdale, which may require staying in a hotel the night before, depending on where you're coming from. And that's if you're willing to be in a cabin with no windows, possibly even in the bottom of the ship (scary). For a couple it's at least $1,900. If you're a drinker, add the cost of alcohol, plus the cost of shore excursions if you want to do anything when you get to the Bahamas or Jamaica. I hear this is pretty good for a cruise, but it's still a lot of money. I don't generally have a problem with any band doing something just for the money, and agree that Pulp deserves to make as much as possible for everything they've given us, but as others have said, this does seems to conflict a bit with the band's (original) ethos.

3. The timing; for me this is the worst part, it's very annoying for anyone who's going to the Sheffield show to try and swing this a week or two later, plus the fact that the second cruise is just before Christmas, and flights home are going to be twice as expensive, with more crowded airports, not to mention that it's a giant pain to try to get days off of work right before a holiday anyway.

4. Why are there 2? I guess we'll see what the response is after the sale starts this weekend, but it seems like a big gamble to assume that it will sell as well as the festival in Indio, and why take the chance that you might've been able to sell out 1 boat (or at least come close) but instead split your audience between 2 boats and make a lot less money. I suspect that unless it sells dreadfully, even if sales are not great they might see it as an investment for future cruises, given that Pulp's incredible music and performance talents will surely win over all attendees who will dutifully spread the word about how great the whole experience was...

5. Sea legs are not fun. And if you feel sick there's no escape other than the middle of the boat.

On the other hand...it might actually be an amazing experience, and if I could get the time off I would probably do it. For the bands, they can easily bring their families and have a nice vacation, with a few shows thrown in, easy and lucrative. For the fans, you get the chance to maybe hang out or at least have a chat with the bands (if you're into that kind of thing), and at any time of the day there's interesting (?) music to check out, potentially interesting people to meet from (probably) all over the world. I spent a ridiculous amount of money (have to double costs since I force my husband along with me) to get to the Brixton shows and would do it again without hesitation (I suppose I am, with the Sheffield show). I hope the cruise does well and everyone who goes has a good time. But I still think the Sheffield show will be amazing, and I'd rather explore Manchester/Sheffield anyway, since I'm not a drinker or a beachy kind of gal.

As weed said (in another thread, I think), the mysterious drops of info are getting really old, and it's starting to feel like they're not orchestrating the reunion as brilliantly as it seemed they were last year (when Russell was still involved, ahem).

There's a facebook group for people traveling all over for this, and some in search of people to stay with: https://www.facebook.com/groups/309112072518153/

Is anyone here going to this?