Jarvis Cocker of Pulp Reflects on How “Life Has Become Dark” Following Michael Jackson’s British Truck Incident

Jarvis Cocker Reflects on a Dark Era

Jarvis Cocker from Pulp confessed that “life has become dark” following his infamous encounter with the British Michael Jackson.

Controversy at the Brit Awards

The singer made headlines during the 1996 Brit Awards when he unexpectedly joined Michael Jackson onstage during the latter’s performance of “Land of Songs” to protest Jackson’s self-image as a “healing figure.”

After descending onto the stage and causing a scene, Cocker was arrested on suspicion of assault but was released without charges.

In a recent interview with Mojo, Cocker reflected on that incident: “Initially, it seemed bad: I was accused of dragging children off the stage and so forth, which was not true. Ultimately, everyone learned who I was. I always wanted fame, but you cannot predict the level of notoriety you will achieve, and this experience overwhelmed me.”

“It wasn’t for the music; it was due to the entirely out-of-character thing I did. It became quite challenging to deal with because I couldn’t simply go outside anymore. So yes, life has become dark,” he stated.

The “Common People” singer remarked that the ordeal sent him into a downward spiral that took “more than a decade to recover from. But I managed it; I can’t complain.”

These sentiments echoed his comments in a 2020 interview with The New York Times, where he said the incident “forever changed my life,” noting that David Bowie had been an unlikely support system during that time.

“In the UK, I suddenly became incredibly recognizable, and I could no longer go out,” he explained. “This thrust me into a level of celebrity that I was unprepared for.”

Cocker expressed his gratitude towards Bowie: “There were accusations that I threw children off the stage. I was arrested. The only footage released was akin to surveillance video, and you could not see what transpired.”

“That same year, David Bowie received an award in his lifetime and had his film crew present. A couple of days later, they released their footage, and the charges were quickly dropped. I am immensely grateful to David Bowie; it was amazing.”

Meanwhile, Cocker and his band will hold two special intimate concerts in London next month, both for BBC 6 Music and for radio.

This event celebrates the cult Sheffield group as they announce their new album “More,” set to be released through Rough Trade Records on June 6, featuring both new material and fan-favorites.

Last week (April 10), Cocker told BBC 6 Music‘s Lauren Lavern that “Glastonbury holds a very important place in our hearts,” but that there are “no plans” for this year.

Cocker also shared with Lavern that creating “More” without Steve Mackey, who passed away in 2023, felt “strange at first,” but that the record includes “two songs dating back to when Steve was around,” making him feel connected to the project.

“It was not the most pleasant experience,” the singer admitted. “However, you never forget the people you are close to, and you can find ways to remember them.”