Pulp have confirmed they won’t be playing Glastonbury despite mounting speculation they were the secret Patchwork act.
Following a 25-year hiatus, two months ago the band announced their latest studio album More.
After forming in Sheffield in 1978, Pulp made waves in the 1990s, most notably with their albums His ‘n’ Hers and its follow-up Different Class.
In 1995 they went on to headline the Pyramid Stage of Glastonbury, standing in for The Stone Roses at the last minute. They then performed on the same stage again three years later.
Over the past few months many have been convinced they would play at the 2025 festival, especially as this year marks the 30th anniversary of their first appearance at Glastonbury, but one of its members has now shut down rumours.
Speaking on BBC Radio 6 Music, keyboard player Candida Doyle said they were not part of the line-up.
‘We wanted to, just because it’s the 30th anniversary and that kind of thing, and they weren’t interested,’ she said.
‘And then we were thinking maybe next year, and then they’re not doing it next year.’
Her comments come after Pulp’s frontman Jarvis Cocker said the band would only perform at the iconic festival this year in a ‘life or death situation’.
‘I will be going to Glastonbury, and I might DJ.,’ he told the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 in April.
‘Well, you know, I do occasionally DJ at Glastonbury in a place called Stone Bridge near the park stage. I will be happy to see what is going on there.’
But when asked whether fans could expect Pulse to perform, he told the host: ‘I don’t think that’s going to happen.
‘If it was a life-or-death situation, but I really don’t think it’s going to happen.’
In 2011 the band were then one of the surprise special guests at the festival.
In recent weeks many became certain Pulp would be returning to the stage – specifically to play the Pyramid Stage on the Saturday evening as the secret Patchwork act.
Pulp consists of Cocker, Doyle, drummer Nick Banks and guitarist Mark Webber.
They’ve achieved five UK top 10 singles and two UK number one albums.
Earlier this year they announced a new tour – their first since 2022 – before revealing new music was also on its way.
During their last tour tickets for Pulp’s 10 shows across the UK were snapped up in minutes.
Metro has contacted representatives for Glastonbury and Pulp for comment.
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