“Spike Island Come Alive”: Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker Unpacks Band’s First New Track in Decades

Pulp are officially back. The band has revealed that their long-awaited new album, More, will be released on June 6th, 2025, through Rough Trade. It marks their first studio album since the early 2000s and includes the brand-new single ‘Spike Island’—their first in over two decades.

Speaking with Lauren Laverne on BBC 6 Music, guitarist Mark Webber reflected on the real-life event that sparked the idea for ‘Spike Island’. He remembered attending The Stone Roses’ famed 1990 show on Spike Island, but admitted it didn’t quite live up to the hype:

“It ended up being a bit of a letdown. I think a lot of people felt that way. There was so much build-up, but the sound wasn’t great, and the atmosphere just wasn’t there.”

Jarvis Cocker, who didn’t attend the show himself, explained that he pieced the song together based on other people’s memories—much like he did with ‘Sorted for E’s and Whizz’, which was also based on a conversation he once had at a Sheffield nightclub.

“Someone told me the only thing they remembered was people walking around asking, ‘Is everyone sorted for E’s and whizz?’ That stuck in my head.”

As for ‘Spike Island’, Cocker credited Jason Buckle with composing the music and inspiring the title:

“He told me there was this DJ who just kept saying, ‘Spike Island come alive’ between every track. That line wouldn’t leave me.”

The band’s new album More is a tribute to their late bassist Steve Mackey, who passed away in 2023. In a heartfelt statement, Cocker shared how a single new song sparked the album’s creation:

“We were rehearsing ‘Hymn of the North’ during our 2023 tour and ended up playing it live. That moment opened the floodgates creatively.”

Cocker revealed that the album was recorded in just three weeks in November 2024, at a studio in London with producer James Ford—the quickest they’ve ever completed a record.

“It was clearly the right time. The songs came naturally. And yes, for the record—no artificial intelligence was used.”

He added that contributions came from across the UK, including a track composed by Richard Hawley and backing vocals from members of the Eno family.

“This is the best we can offer. It’s dedicated to Steve. We hope it means something to those who listen.”

Following the release of More, Pulp will embark on a UK and Ireland arena tour in June, with shows planned in Glasgow, Dublin, Birmingham, and Manchester, before returning home to headline Tramlines Festival in Sheffield in July.