Fans of Britpop legend Pulp have a fresh reason to celebrate. The new documentary “Pulp: What Do You Do For An Encore?” premieres on the streaming service MUBI on September 25, offering an intimate look at the band’s origins through the eyes of frontman Jarvis Cocker.
Childhood ambitions become a masterplan
The film opens with Cocker reading excerpts from diary pages he scribbled while attending school in Sheffield during the early 1970s. At just twelve or thirteen, he admits he could not yet play guitar, but he could write. “It was … wish fulfilment. I suppose like manifesting,” he tells Reuters. He even bribed friends with a few cans of lager to rehearse in his mother’s living room, laying the groundwork for what would become a lifelong musical journey.
From art school to chart‑topping hits
After leaving Sheffield, Cocker moved to London to study film and fine art at St Martin’s College – the very institution immortalised in Pulp’s later hit “Common People.” Though he graduated, he felt a stronger pull toward songwriting, describing it as “my way of trying to make sense of the world and out of myself.” The documentary follows that transition, charting the band’s struggle for recognition in the 1980s and their breakthrough in the 1990s with albums such as His ‘N’ Hers and the Mercury Prize‑winning Different Class. Iconic tracks like “Do You Remember The First Time?” “Disco 2000” and “Help the Aged” are highlighted alongside archival footage.
Return after a 24‑year hiatus
After a 24‑year recording hiatus, Pulp re‑emerged in 2025 with the Mercury Prize‑nominated album More. The documentary captures the energy of their reunion shows at London’s O2 Arena, showing that the band’s chemistry remains intact despite the passage of time.
Looking ahead with humility
When asked about the future, Cocker offered a candid, modest outlook. “I think I won’t be alive … in 24 years, or if I am, I won’t be up to it,” he said, adding that the band’s recent album “went well” and that the members are still in touch. He expressed hope for more music, though he admitted he could not predict how long that might take.
For anyone who grew up with Pulp’s anthems or is curious about the creative spark that launched one of Britain’s most beloved bands, the documentary promises a blend of nostalgia, personal reflection, and behind‑the‑scenes storytelling. Stream “Pulp: What Do You Do For An Encore?” on MUBI starting September 25.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
