Pulp’s Nick Banks: “I Thought ‘Common People’ Was A Tuneless Dirge”

Pulp drummer Nick Banks has revealed that he wasn’t a big fan of what is arguably the band’s most enduring song, Common People. Banks said he thought the iconic single, which was recently voted the public’s favourite Britpop anthem in a BBC Radio poll, sounded like a “tuneless dirge.”

Speaking recently to BBC morning show 5Live Breakfast, Banks was asked if he knew the band had “recorded something special” after completing Common People. To the host’s surprise, the drummer replied bluntly, “Not particularly, no. It sounded a bit of tuneless dirge at first, to be honest.”

Banks went on to explain that he thought frontman Jarvis Cocker‘s initial demo of the track, whose lyrics many feel encapsulated the era of Britpop, was a “load of rubbish.” However, he admitted he began to appreciate the track once he heard the final recording with the whole band involved.

In a BBC Radio 6 poll launched by DJ Steve Lamacq, over 30,000 listeners voted the Different Class cut their favourite Britpop anthem of all time, beating out such enduring tracks as Blur‘s Parklife, The Verve‘s Bittersweet Symphony, Oasis‘ Wonderwall, and Suede‘s Animal Nitrate to take the top spot.

Gallery: BBC Radio 6 Top 10 Britpop Anthems

Watch: Pulp – Common People