It was all there, lets be real. The news headline would have to be Fork found in kitchen.

heatherwealthy wrote:

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It was all there, lets be real. The news headline would have to be Fork found in kitchen.

-- Edited by heatherwealthy on Thursday 12th of October 2023 02:06:24 PM

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  Thats a good one!!

Ta. The video of it is here - nice view of Nick's living room with a Pulp washing-powder box resplendent on the mantelpiece.

timahall wrote:

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Some weird responses! I'm happy to recount what Nick said.

Basically when Pulp played in Japan at the height of their popularity, they had this huge (female) fan that would follow them around and stand in front of Jarvis every night. Jarvis deemed her so unattractive that when he'd look into the crowd and see her, he'd get put off. After a while, the band/Jarvis told her that she had to stand at the sound desk.

To be honest, the way Nick recounted the story didn't make him look great either. It's like he expected everyone to laugh but it went silent with some noises of disapproval. The host had to defuse the situation a bit.

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Are we sure this is true, though? This one particularly bothers me, as myself, grew up kind of a freak, and still feel I kinda am, and the big big thing that held as a foundation of me being a fan was that Pulp WERE seemingly, like me, odd, awkward, vocally supportive of the outcasts, freaks, nerds, the awkward (physically and socially), and was basically what they were rather built upon. so..hearing this actually makes me depressed and sick. Reminds me of shit that was done to me in life and I think many others might feel the same way. 

I mean..OK, temper, rude at moments, okay...decided I can get over that...but this one just really bugged me. 

Was this fan doing something else perhaps or ? There's gotta be something more behind it, or Nick exaggerated it for the crowd? 

What was the full context when he told it?

Might sound dumb, but to me, this kind of changes... a lot. 

Now I'm remembering reading somewhere something similar..but was more to it? Was probably something on Acrylic Afternoons archive. 

Simply Fuss Free wrote:

Stalkers are also a thing when you are famous. And it must be uncomfortable when random strangers seem overly familiar, even if they are just engaging in some harmless idolatry (*notes irony*)

For all we know the person was flattered just to be noticed at all, and possibly honoured to have a special place in the sound booth. 

None of this makes it "right". Humans are imperfect, insecure, full of contradictions and prone to selfishness and judgement. Don't put people on pedestals and you won't be disappointed. He's not Jesus, after all. 

-- Edited by Simply Fuss Free on Monday 16th of October 2023 03:37:38 PM

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No this is exactly it! I think we live in an age where many demand our artists to be ideologically pure/feel disappointed when their actions don't match projections of who we think they are vs. the flawed, multifaceted humans they actually are. It's interesting to consider the point you've brought up in the parasocial element of being a 'fan' and how that is somewhat dehumanizing to be on the receiving end of. Quite frankly, every bit of goss i've heard about pulp pales in comparison to anything i've ever read in say, Please Kill Me by Legs McNeil.

The fact that Nick thought this anecdote would be hilarious is just testament to the fact that social mores have shifted quite a bit and what would have elicited a chuckle in the past now won't (and rightfully so. it mean lol)

F*** me!  A nuanced, considered discussion on the internet! I didn't know it was possible... 

To me, it sounds most dickish and disagreeable, and there might be some weird attitudes going on towards plus-sized people. But on the flip-side, people are dicks sometimes. I think Jarvis is a lot more self-aware than a lot of his peers in the music industry, has shown contrition for times he's fucked up, still is reportedly lovely to fans these days (which he doesn't have to be) and more than that he's still out there performing and doing all that for us. 

I agree that the parasocial side of fandom is very much there and the internet hasn't exactly helped abate it, not to sound all luddite or anything.

Simply Fuss Free wrote:

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Beta wrote:

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Fair points to you and Lapinette. You both made fair points and perspectives and are appreciated. 

 

But please dont think I am one of those super parasocial, super idolizing kind of a fan. Or a stalker. 

Not sure if some references like the "irony" part was directed at me. but no. I am just weird about that whole separating the two kind a thing. 

 

-- Edited by Beta on Monday 16th of October 2023 04:20:50 PM

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Just for sake of clarity - when I said "irony noted" I was engaging in self-deprecation. Point being that I am a random stranger, presenting to speak (to a degree) on behalf of someone I don't really know, and thusly being a bit of a hypocrit. So not aimed at anyone else but my own damned self.

Nice to see insightful comments. I won't lie, was sincerely worried I might be ostracized after I submitted the post. So often these daya any attempt at "understanding" goes sideways on the internet. Sometimes I think it's foolish to engage. But you all give me hope. 

-- Edited by Simply Fuss Free on Monday 16th of October 2023 07:03:21 PM

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Oh, no worries!! Wasn't upset at all. 

I think these kind of conversations, when civil, are very healthy. And it seems to be a very civil group of folks here.  

Simply Fuss Free wrote:

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Beta wrote:

 

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Are we sure this is true, though? This one particularly bothers me, as myself, grew up kind of a freak, and still feel I kinda am, and the big big thing that held as a foundation of me being a fan was that Pulp WERE seemingly, like me, odd, awkward, vocally supportive of the outcasts, freaks, nerds, the awkward (physically and socially), and was basically what they were rather built upon. so..hearing this actually makes me depressed and sick. Reminds me of shit that was done to me in life and I think many others might feel the same way.  

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But of course there's always more to every story, isn't there?

 

For a start, Jarvis was rather fond of the white stuff back then, and demonstrated many of the familiar side effects of inhaling a bit too much of it. 

 

It was a different time as well, and being a bit of a dick was rather celebrated behaviour. There was a cache of cool to being a bit of bad boy. The whole of This is Hardcore (the album) is basically an apology for his descent into laddish misbehaviour.

 

We also know nothing about this person aside that Jarvis found them off-putting. That doesn't mean the person was a freak, nerd, outcast or awkward. Could be this person was a glamour model for all we know. Could have been somebody Jarvis had regrettable liaisons with. Or it could have been a very young person and perhaps Jarvis didnt feel comfortable with the attention. Could be the person was just peacocking too much. Regardless of the reason if this person's presence was causing Jarvis to miss his cues, then it's for the best they were moved. 

 

Stalkers are also a thing when you are famous. And it must be uncomfortable when random strangers seem overly familiar, even if they are just engaging in some harmless idolatry (*notes irony*)

 

For all we know the person was flattered just to be noticed at all, and possibly honoured to have a special place in the sound booth. 

 

None of this makes it "right". Humans are imperfect, insecure, full of contradictions and prone to selfishness and judgement. Don't put people on pedestals and you won't be disappointed. He's not Jesus, after all. 

-- Edited by Simply Fuss Free on Monday 16th of October 2023 03:37:38 PM

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Want to add that again, you guys made very great points and I also probably was over-thinking the whole thing and taking it too seriously. And in the light of things, compared to all other dramatic stuff that goes on with other bands and members, like really ugly stuff, this does all seem insignificant. Humans are humans, but also human flaws and dumbass phases don't make someone evil. 

I hope none of my responses has spoiled the book or thread or vibe on here. Apologies if it did. Wasn't my intention. 

And yeah, that was around Jarvis's rough phase, and regardless. And he's obviously not a bad person. I want to make that clear that I don't think he is nor do I want others to think he or any member is. They all actually seem like decent folk and on almost every account I have ever read or heard of, he's been nothing but very sweet and cordial, polite to every fan even when being randomly bugged on the street. 

Also, apparently each member is delight to work with so I've heard over the years. 

lipglossed wrote:

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Anyway, we still love Pulp, don't we? :D

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 Yeah...about that...

Sorry, sour grapes and all that, but I really thought I'd have heard something by now. Even if it was "your film is shit, please delete".