Pulp 'Make History' With First Official Live Appearance in 15 Years

Pulp played their first official reunion gig at Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival this Friday, May 27.

Performing live as the classic lineup (including Russell Senior who left the band in 1996) for the first time in 15 years, Jarvis Cocker proudly declared the band are "not about ancient history" but about "making history."

The band, who have previous history with Barcelona -- having played the Primavera festival in 2002 with a lesser lineup and DJed individually at the city's famous club venue many times -- dedicated the final two tracks of the night, 'Common People' and 'Razzmatazz,' to the frenzied, tightly-packed, local crowd.

Making a political comment about the ongoing Spanish election demonstrations, Cocker remarked: "It is irritating when people from other countries make comments but I know that some s--- went down in the main square today. When the police put 100 people in hospital it's not a good thing." Dedicating 'Common People' to the "indignados" protesters naturally brought on roars of approval from the audience.

Pulp had kicked off the nostalgia-rousing 15-track set with a very apt 'Do You Remember the First Time?' treating tens of thousands of fans who had traveled, pilgrimage-like, from around the world to every classic track on the 'wish list' (except 'Joyriders' and 'Mis-shapes' which they played at their French warm-up gig earlier in the week).

Cocker, who had admitted to feeling anxious about the first of this year's festival tour circuit shows had his fears unfounded as he put on a note-perfect performance, teasing the eager crowd throughout.

The black-suited, still-lithe frontman even managed to broker a marriage proposal between two audience members from Athens, Ga., telling them the next song, 'Underwear,' would "give them something to think about."

Other highlights included a guitar solo during 'Sunrise' with Cocker straddling an amp while during 'I Spy' he filmed audience members with a torch-lit camera.

Ending the show by blowing a kiss, Cocker announced confidently: "We'll see you again soon."

Fulfilling all expectations for a perfect comeback with their slick performance, Pulp are now booked to play Isle of Wight and Wireless festivals in the UK this summer, as well as several more European festival shows.

'Do You Remember the First Time?'
'Pink Glove'
'Pencil Skirt'
'Something Changed'
'Disco 2000'
'Babies'
'Sorted for E's & Wizz'
'F.E.E.L.I.N.G C.A.L.L.E.D L.O.V.E'
'I Spy'
'Underwear'
'This is Hardcore'
'Sunrise'
'Bar Italia'
'Common People'
Encore:
'Razzmatazz'