Longtime collaborators Jarvis Cocker and director Garth Jennings have reunited for a new projectPulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?a documentary capturing the band’s recent resurgence. The two first crossed paths in the late 1990s when Jennings directed the music videos for Pulp’s singles “Help the Aged” and “A Little Soul.” Their professional relationship has since evolved into a deep friendship, marked by memorable anecdotes, including a time in Paris when Cocker nearly caused a legal stir by setting off fireworks near the École Militaire. “So obviously they didn’t like explosives,” Cocker recalls, noting they were reprimanded for the incident.
The new film serves as both a concert movie and a retrospective, featuring footage from the band’s performance at London’s O2 Arena in the summer of 2025. This milestone event coincided with the news thatMorethe group’s eighth studio album and their first new release in 24 years, had reached the top of the British album charts. Jennings, known for his work onSon of RambowandThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyhas spent the last 13 years in Paris, where he oversees animation for theSingfranchise. Despite his busy schedule, he jumped at the chance to document the band’s latest chapter.
The documentary’s inception was partly inspired by the immersiveAbba Voyageexperience. Both Cocker and Jennings were struck by the show’s ability to blend live performance with digital spectacle. “That was something that was very inspiring. Just the sheer joy of it,” Jennings says. This sense of wonder helped shape the creative direction of the Pulp film, which incorporates a mix of animation, archival TV clips, and grainy VHS footage sourced by archivist Tess McNally-Watson. Many of the physical artifacts featured in the film will be recognizable to fans who read Cocker’s 2023 bookGood Pop Bad Pop.
Reflecting on the band’s history, Cocker admits he was initially hesitant about a reunion, fearing it might tarnish the “happy ending” established during their 2011–2013 tour. However, after confessing his anxieties about audience reception to a promoter, he decided to move forward. The film does not shy away from the band’s more difficult periods, including the era surrounding their 1998 albumThis Is Hardcorewhich Cocker describes as a time spent in a “dark tunnel.” Jennings, who worked with the band during that period, admits he was unaware of the frontman’s internal struggles at the time, noting that the creative process itself remained a positive experience.
A poignant element of the film is the tribute to bassist Steve Mackey, who joined the band in 1989 and passed away in 2023 at the age of 56. Although Mackey did not participate in the latest tour, his presence is felt throughout the documentary, and the filmmakers ensured his family was involved in the tribute’s inclusion. Cocker views the band’s trajectory not as a rigid plan, but as an organic evolution. “You know, it’s like a tree,” he says. “And if the intellectual weather is right in the next couple of years, maybe we’ll sprout another record.”
Ultimately, Cocker remains philosophical about the nature of success. Having decided to pursue music as a child, he now views the pursuit of fame as a potential trap. “People think fame is a magic wand that makes everything in your life work, and obviously that’s not the case,” he explains. He compares the experience of revisiting his past to watching a wedding video—a moment that feels magical in the present but can feel surreal or detached when viewed later. Despite the lack of a formal “master plan,” Cocker expresses satisfaction with how the band’s journey has unfolded, noting that the unpredictability is part of what makes being in a group special. The report also notes that and Cocker had taken some welcoming fireworks over to Jennings’ place, it was bonfire night. The report also notes that “It turned out Garth’s apartment was quite near to the – not an army base, but what’s it called?”. The report also notes that “It was lovely,” adds Jennings, fondly. The report also notes that almost 30 years later, they are working together again, on Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore. The report also notes that on the night that Pulp were told that More, their eighth studio album and first album in 24 years, had gone to No 1 in the British album charts, the live show was filmed at London’s O2 Arena in the summer of 2025. The report also notes that you can see Cocker waving around the trophy on stage. The report also notes that and the third and final film in the series, he is working on a short Christmas special. The report also notes that “It’s a slow process,” he says, from the studio, “but we’re getting there.” Cocker moved back to London a few years ago, and today he is at home, getting ready to headline the End of the Road festival.
