Pulp Discusses Steve McCa’s Loss
Pulp opened up about the passing of bassist Steve McCa and their prospects of performing at Glastonbury this year.
- Read more: Mark Webber from Pulp on his photo bug and a new song of the group: “This is somewhere between mature and foamy pop music”
The band is set to release their upcoming album “More,” their first record in nearly 24 years, on June 6.
Remembering a Beloved Band Member
During an interview with Lauren Laverne on BBC 6 Music, frontman Jarvis Cocker and guitarist Mark Webber discussed “More,” which is dedicated to their late bassist. McCa passed away at the age of 56 on March 2, 2023; though the cause of death was not disclosed, McCa’s wife, stylist Katie Grand, indicated he had been hospitalized in recent months.
Cocker mentioned that recording without McCa felt “odd,” but they included “two songs that date from when Steve was around,” allowing him to remain part of the project.
“It was not the most pleasant experience,” the singer added. “But the people you are close to, you will never forget them, and you can create something to honor their memory.”
In addition, Cocker shared their chances of playing at Glastonbury this year. The band has a storied history with the festival, famously stepping in to replace The Stone Roses as headliners after guitarist John Squire suffered a collarbone injury.
This performance solidified Pulp’s legacy; their fifth studio album, “Different Class,” went on to achieve quadruple platinum status just four months post-concert. NME continues to label it as one of their best albums. Pulp also made a surprise appearance on the Park stage at the festival in 2011.
Despite Cocker expressing that “Glastonbury holds a significant place in our hearts,” he confirmed that Pulp has “no plans” to perform this year.
The Creative Process Behind “More”
Discussing “More,” Cocker revealed that they recorded for three weeks in 2024 with producer James Ford.
Cocker noted that “there was no pressure, except for the emotional weight, which probably sounds quite useful and not very precise.”
“We (recorded) pretty quickly and tried not to overthink it, as that was a bit painful in the past few albums,” he explained, adding, “It was mainly my fault because I never finalized the lyrics, so I kept changing things.”
“This time, the lyrics were completed before we went into the studio, and I realized it was far less intense.”
Check out the tracklist for “More” below:
The Tracklist for “More”:
- 'Spike Island'
- 'Tina'
- 'Adults'
- 'Slow Jam'
- 'Farm Market'
- 'My Sex'
- 'Must Be Love'
- 'Background Noise'
- 'Partial Eclipse'
- 'Anthem of the North'
- 'Sunset'
In other news, Neil Young, Sam Fender, Pulp, Raye, and others will headline the Jazz Jazz Festival 2025.
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