Common People and headlining Glastonbury 1995

Trust me #96
Common People by Pulp

The Stone Roses were scheduled to headline Glastonbury 1995 on the back of the late 94 release of The Second Coming. After years of inactivity with the Roses, there was now a lot going on - notably the departure of Reni just 2-weeks before their European spring tour.

Soldiering on with the recruitment of Robbie Maddix, the Roses turned in some tight performances and were riding high as they entered summer, with all directions pointing towards a Saturday night headline slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

Just a week prior to Glastonbury, set to be the bands first UK performance in 5-years, John Squire came off his bike in San Francisco and dislocated his collarbone. The Roses actually took out an advert in the NME with the X-ray of Squire's broken collarbone to confirm that the band could no longer play.

Step forward ... Pulp.

Now, in June 1995, Pulp had not supplied any substantial evidence that they were Saturday night headline material - no offence to the band! Jarvis Cocker's band had made roads with their His'n'Hers album the previous year, their first on a major label (Island) especially with the singles Do You Remember The First Time?, Babies and Lipgloss, but only one of those songs (only just) broke the top 20. Razmattaz, their final single for Gift Records in 1993 reached the heady heights of number 80.

Then, in May 95, Pulp released the absolutely magnificent Common People as a single, capturing the times, the colour, humour, possibilities and the pop essence of Britpop all at once. Their album Different Class was still months away from release.

Undeterred and rising to the challenge, Pulp played a 12-song set, taking in 11-songs from His'n'Hers, Different Class and then Razmattaz. Not one single song from pre-1993, quite remarkable considering the fact that they has been releasing records since 1983.

Cocker was brave but honest. Pulp's earlier material just wasn't good enough for a Glastonbury headline slot. Their were live debuts for 3-songs; Sorted for E's & Whizz (utterly perfect for the festival!), Disco 2000 and Mis-Shapes.

Common People closed their set and the main stage. Pulp, and Jarvis, had finally arrived.

"It's sad, funny, ironic and all dressed up in pop music that's so melodramatically camp it could open a boy scout's jamboree." Tony Cross, Smash Hits

Common People is everything that is brilliant about pop music. The riff is catchy, immediately locking you in, the lyrics are a story, beautifully delivered by Jarvis Cocker - an incredible mix of humour and social commentary, the chorus is anthemic and euphoric.

Cocker has often spoken about the real-life inspiration behind the song, the lyrics were reportedly inspired by a conversation he had while studying at Central Saint Martins art college in London in the late 1980s. He met a wealthy Greek art student who told him she wanted to “live like common people.”

 She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge

She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College

That's where I, caught her eye

She told me that her Dad was loaded

I said in that case I'll have rum and cola

She said fine, and then in 30-seconds time, she said

I wanna live like common people

I wanna do whatever common people do ...

The build is slow, menacing even. Then, after the second verse and chorus, it erupts. Controlled chaos. Anger wrapped in disco. Social poetry delivered as pop. 

But she didn't, understand

She just smiled and held my hand

Jarvis goes off on one. Pulp connected in a different way to Oasis or Blur. Pulp did something braver. They pointed a finger. And Common People was the hand that flicked the Vs.

Pulp connected cause they cut, they called it out;

Rent a flat above a shop

Cut you hair and get a job

Smoke some fags and play some pool

Pretend you never went to school

Still you'll never get it right

Cause when you're laying in bed at night

Watching roaches climb the wall

If you called your Dad he could stop it all

Jarvis, in full flight, criticising the pretence, highlighting that they have a 'get out' option, and then the beautiful kiss off;

You'll never live like common people

You'll never do whatever common people do

He continues, enraged and almost spitting;

You'll never fail like common people

You'll never watch your life slide out of view

And then dance and drink and screw

Because there's nothing else to do

The instrumental leads to another chorus that feels even bigger. It's a chorus you could chant it in a club or study it in a classroom.  

Check the iconic video below and the truly sensational Glastonbury performance from June 1995. The way Jarvis ans his band builds up to the finale is incredible. Pop brilliance. Pop genius.

Common People - official video

Glastonbury 1995

The full length version of Common People is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

Pulp at Glasgow Barrowland in 1995

The other night, ahead of my blog on the 20th anniversary of Oasis' Morning Glory album, I posted a few things on Facebook talking of the anniversary. It prompted a friend to reminisce about his favourite ever gig - Pulp at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow and Morning Glory coming out the next day. Back in 1995 there seemed to be no shortage of brilliant music.

Steven Birrell is a lovely guy I met when I worked with the charity Maggie's Centres. Steven was a similar age and we got on well. Steven raised fantastic funds and awareness for the cause and through the power of Social Media we have kept in touch.

I asked Steven if he would write a guest blog about his memories and I have to say I was blown away reading it on the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow this afternoon.

I hope you enjoy it...

Steven - Remembering the first time

PULP - DIFFERENT CLASS TOUR, GLASGOW BARROWLAND, 1995

The streets of Glasgow’s East End have seen their fair share of hardmen over the years. But the group of barechested young lads swaggering down the Gallowgate twenty years ago struck fear into no one. Yet “Fife’s Scrawniest Boyband” weren’t looking for a fight. They wanted donner meat and chips, another beer and, eventually, a bus back to their mate’s uni flat in Balornock. The swagger was because they’d just seen something special in the Barrowland Ballroom. Barechested, because the cold night air against the sweat soaked t-shirts was chilling them to the bone and a concert veteran had told them that ‘taps aff’ would be warmer. He was right.

I’d been going to the Barrowlands for a few years before the 1st of October 1995, travelling through from Dunfermline with some mates and one of their big brothers who was old enough to drive. The fifteen year old me was armed with a borrowed Lauder College ID with my photo blu-tacked over the real Steven Hunter. I’m convinced I only got in because the bouncer spotted the Fife address and thought I’d be safer inside the venue than stood outside waiting for a few hours.

In that time I’d seen some amazing frontmen, being blown away by Billy Corgan and being mildly terrified of Henry Rollins. But nothing prepared me for Mr Jarvis Cocker and Pulp’s 2nd gig of their Different Class tour and there hasn’t been a live music ‘experience’ that’s bettered it. I’ve never been able to explain why. There’s been plenty of other gigs since, including Pulp, but hopefully you might get an idea over the course of this blog.

I grew up with a bunch of friends who all loved their music and had a range of tastes. We’d spend our Friday and Saturday nights alternating between the bedroom of two friends, Jim and Mo, whose parents had to tolerate a five hour setlist that could swing from TTF to the Rolling Stones, New Order to Metallica, Arab Strap to Nirvana.

But Britpop united us all and Pulp’s His N’ Hers was one of the first albums that had universal approval across the group and was never off the stereo. A night would not pass without one of the group walking across the room that was strewn with NMEs, Select, Vox and Melody Makers to imitate Jarvis, flicking out a leg and then pointing to the sky, before heading downstairs to get the carry out from the fridge. But we’d only ever seen the band on telly, read about them in all the aforementioned and sadly missed titles (it’s not the same NME, I’m sorry!) and listened to them on radio. The Barrowlands was going to be our first live experience of them and they didn’t disappoint.

So, ‘do I remember the first time?’ Oh yes. Twenty years on, I still recall lots about that night. We’d met at Jim’s new flat in Glasgow. Mo had got his hands on a promo copy of What’s The Story from a record fair that afternoon, so we got a sneak preview of the 2nd Oasis album before heading out. But other than their name, I don’t remember much about the support act, Minty. I’m always in for the support slots and they’ve triggered some long term musical relationships with acts. But not Minty.

It was the Different Class tour, but the album didn’t come out until later that month. There’d been a few singles released prior to the gig including the game changing Common People but I went along keen to see and hear all my favourites from His ‘N’ Hers played live - the new material was a bonus!      

From the minute he strutted and shimmied onto the stage, I was captivated by Jarvis Cocker and barely took my eyes off him for the entire gig, smiling, starstruck. That’s probably not strictly true, I had a wee crush on Candida Doyle and I’m sure there was a few cheeky glances towards her throughout the set.

Jarvis and the band took us on a rollercoaster, we danced and bounced and sang along to Razzmatazz, Joyriders and First Time. We were 17 and 18, a mix of freshers and schoolboys, not a care in the world and that ballroom was the centre of our universe, oblivious to everything else - even the sweat dripping off the roof and on to our ‘curtains’ hairdos.   

I remember being near the front when Acrylic Afternoons came on, and I just stood transfixed listening to the hushed, husky, almost breathless vocals. Even when the chorus burst into life and the crowd started bouncing and jumping, I just let myself get carried along in the sway. Mesmerised. It wasn’t my favourite song on the album before the gig, but as the years have went on, it’s the track I’ve listened to most - probably because of that night. If Kirsty Young ever calls, it’s on the Desert Island Discs list (which changes monthly).

We cheered the opening chords of Babies when we starting thinking they weren’t going to play it. I’m sure I flicked out a leg and pointed to the sky shouting ‘Alright’. I think we all did. The encore was Underwear, classic Pulp, and we all heading downstairs with Common People still ringing in our ears (and staring at the Transvision Vamp poster with Wendy James).

I’m not entirely convinced that I’ve explained what made this the best live experience - I’ll never be a gig reviewer that’s for sure. I was 17, just starting Stirling Uni and this was my first Glasgow gig where I wasn’t going home at the end of it. I was with a group of childhood friends that remain great friends two decades on. We still go to gigs together but the hairline has headed north and there’s no longer a fringe, never mind a set of curtains. On that chilly October night, Britpop took us out of the bedroom and into the Barrowlands. From sitting with our heads buried in music mags with economy cider to jumping about like idiots drinking watered down lager. And there wasn’t a smart phone in sight. This was ‘our moment’, our preview into the new songs and an album that would make them household names. And of course, I got to see one of my idols owning the stage, making us ‘dance, and drink and….there was none of the other stuff!’.

Last year I went along to a screening of Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets at Rough Trade Records and Jarvis and Candida were there to do a Q&A. At the end, the crowds swarmed in to get selfies and signatures and normally I'd be wading right in there. But Pulp are different. I've met plenty of my heroes (and never been disappointed) but Jarvis and co, I'm happy to admire from afar. Instead, I stood at the back, gave them both a wee salute before heading out down Brick Lane with a swagger. ‘Taps Oan’. Smiling. Remembering the first time.