Well, this isn't what I was thinking of specifically but there's a reference to the type of thing I read somewhere else here:
drdavidclarke.co.uk/tag/russell-senior/

"This custom persists into the present day. Guitarist Russell Senior, of Pulp, recalls how he and Jarvis Cocker, as teenagers, cast coins into the river near the Wicker to appease the spirit of dark and lonely water. This was no ghost, but an imaginary Bergmanesque figure, in a monks robe, who appears in a scary 1973 public information film that warned children to stay away from riverbanks.

There is more evidence of Cockers interest in the Don and its folklore in the lyrics of Pulps song Wickerman (2001):

we gazed down at the sludgy brown surface of the water together.
Then a passer-by told us that it used to be a local custom to jump off the viaduct into the river
When coming home from the pub on a Saturday night. But that this custom had died out when someone jumped
Landed too near to the riverbank
Had sunk in the mud there & drowned before anyone could reach them.'

Edit - I also second the sentiment re Russell. Would love to have similar re his book.

-- Edited by Jean on Thursday 17th of August 2023 02:10:04 PM

I did, indeed. Rushed down from London on the train, which was 10 minutes late in, meaning I missed the start. It was in a quirky old building just off the main strand, with a primitive bar upstairs and then a dimly-lit room downstairs where the talk was taking place. They had speakers in the bar, so the first thing I heard on arrival was the sound of Nick chatting about his first memories of Pulp and his love for the "It" period.

He was in great form and there was a bit of Jarvis in him as a raconteur - confidently building-up each anecdote and emphasising the key points. The crowd all seemed to enjoy it and there was a lot of laughter. Can't remember if there was anything completely new that we haven't read or heard before - the questions were all the type you'd expect, and chronological. Very amusing when he talked about Pulp being journalistically nominated as trailblazers of "crimplene scene" and "Lion Rock" before Britpop was a baby. The host drew much laughter when he asked "What the f- is crimplene?!".

Being in Brighton, Nick mentioned playing Sussex University in the early 90s and that it played a key role in the Pulp story as that's where Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee saw the band play and offered to manage them.

There was also a funny story about the video for Help The Aged where Stannah Stairlifts were told of the video-treatment and not impressed with how their product may be used. Similarly the charity 'Help The Aged' were worried that they were being made fun of.

After an hour or so, there were questions from the audience, (i.e favourite drummer as a kid/favourite Pulp song to listen to ("Goodnight"?! apparently and to play (Hardcore and CommPeeps). I kind of made the mood sombre by asking for his memories of Steve but I think Nick appreciated it and he gave a lovely answer about how Steve's Charles I (?) poodle-hairdo in the late 80s was his first striking memory of him and that he'd asked Jarvis to ask him to join Pulp given that they were both based in London. Steve's organisational skills and ability to judge what worked musically/how Pulp could use emerging technologies etc. were some of his strongest traits, he said. As well as being a top bloke, of course. 

The book wasn't on-sale but it was one of the top prizes in a raffle on the night - Nick had the first published copy with him and a bloke behind me won it. The book looks like it'll give Truth & Beauty a run for its money in terms of width - very chunky!

There was an interval after which Norman Cook (i.e Fatboy Slim) had a chat with the host and he was great company too. Nick sat amongst us in the crowd for that, I think a couple of members of his family were there too. Norman made a couple of nods to Nick's chat, mainly about how mental fame is when it suddenly arrives and they both pulled out the winning raffle numbers from a goldfish bowl at the end.

Jean, I actually thought you were in attendance because after Nick's chat had finished, a lady in a fine Irish accent approached me and asked if I was Eamonn from Bar Italia. Turns-out she was from Sligo but lives in Southampton and had driven up especially for this. Was delighted that she won one of the raffle prizes (think it was tickets to see Nik Kershaw in Brighton later this year).

Anyway, t'were a good night. Nick, very amiable as you'd expect and I'd thorughly recommend catching him on his little tour. Looking forward to reading the book - out September 28th as he reminded us at least twenty times last night...when self-promotion turns into a running-gag, you know you're doing it right!.

Sounds great, Eamonn. Yeah, Brighton is fab. I went to an event in Sussex Uni before actually. Loved the area.

Well, he's got good taste. I think Goodnight is a great song too but I gather some aren't so keen. Perfect night-time listening as you drift off.

That all shines through about Steve in Russell's book as well doesn't it? That he gave the band a big push musically as well as in terms of organisation. 

Nope, you'll probably never catch me at anything beyond the pale as we say ;) I really should stop being so lazy. I wouldn't even make the effort to go to Belfast to see Jarvis with his book last year. That was the height of laziness and I haven't fully forgiven myself. They have to come to me!

Congrats to the lady from Sligo :) Have a feeling the book will be a good laugh. I thought Russell's and Jarvis' books were too. Be interesting to see it from the drummer's point of view too. Was it Nick was saying before that being the drummer is a bit like being the goalkeeper on a football team. Think some of these dates are selling out, Simply Fuss Free, or close to it so get your tix I'd say!

Simply Fuss Free wrote:

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I might turn up at the London one.

What's the turn out been like for this? Nick seems to me to be the least well-known member of the Pulp collective.

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Last night was the first event. It was full but had local hero Fatboy Slim as the star-turn. It wasn't a fully proper book promo event I guess, as the product wasn't on sale for folk to buy/get their copies signed. I think the organisers do one of these a month. 

Are people's books arriving early then? I'm away and a mystery parcel has shown up at home apparently, so maybe I'll have that to look forward to when I'm back.

I ought to get a ticket for Bath judging by the response to the Brighton one!