Britpop icons Pulp to reform for 2023 shows

Good news for Common People

Legendary Britpop band Pulp are set reform for a series of concerts in 2023, the first new slate of shows they will have performed in over a decade. Drummer Nick Banks confirmed the reunion on BBC Radio Sheffield, remarking, "it's not bad [news] is it?", confirming that the band's home town of will be on their list of dates next year. The 56-year-old long-serving member took to Twitter shortly after to inform fans that it has "all gone a bit mental" following the announcement. https://twitter.com/therealnickbank/status/1551675111907934210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1551675111907934210%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-england-south-yorkshire-62304877 Banks insisted that popular 80s and 90s UK band never suffered a particularly acrimonious split, arguing instead that they just put everything on hold for a while - as they did in the years between their split in 2002 and the first, short-lived reunion in 2011. "It was never a case of us all starting calling each other names and chucking our toys out of the pram", he said; "The band gets put in a drawer under the bed and you know it's safe there and eventually it's going to get resurrected." Hints at a potential comeback were first made by frontman Jarvis Cocker, who posted this somewhat cryptic video to his Instagram, asking his followers: "What exactly do you do for an encore?" https://www.instagram.com/p/CgPdzGTKKf-/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=336632cc-794a-4a9e-9a36-4f01eeceece1 The 58-year-old co-founding member then went on to confirm the news himself on during a Guardian Live event on Monday night, shouting “Next year Pulp are going to play some concerts!" to a reception of massive cheers. A version of Pulp last played together back in December 2012 for a first homecoming gig in Sheffield, as well as on board SS Coachella with a then-new standalone single called "After You." It is unclear whether the band is working on any new material ahead of their much-anticipated return but something tells us this second homecoming is going to be even sweeter.

Related links

• UK will host Eurovision Song Contest in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine
• QUIZ: Name the bands that released these Britpop bangers
• Pink Floyd's Roger Waters declares 'I'm far, far, far more important' than Drake and The Weeknd