Pulp performed ‘Bar Italia’ for the first time in 12 years in Italy last night (June 23).
The track, which is based on the Italian café located on Frith Street in the Soho district of London, closes their classic 1995 album ‘Different Class’.
The song describes the café as “round the corner in Soho” and “where all the broken people go”, and the band can be seen sitting in the haunt on the artwork for their classic hit ‘Common People’.
Many fans expressed their delight at hearing the band play the track for the first time since 2012 at the Medimex festival, with one writing on X: “Pulp ending their set tonight with Bar Italia, the final song from Different Class, was EPIC.”
Another added: “PULP PLAYED BAR ITALIA???? WHAT THE FUCK?????”
I can’t believe it 😭 pic.twitter.com/wKFcGep6AD
— ester (@kIopptimistic) June 23, 2024
The band also performed an array of career highlights, including ‘This Is Hardcore’, ‘Do You Remember The First Time?’, ‘Common People’, ‘Something Changed’ and ‘Underwear’.
Earlier, Jarvis Cocker teamed up with The Jesus & Mary Chain for a performance of ‘Just Like Honey’ during their performance at the festival.
The indie icons have scheduled numerous summer European festivals, including slots at Way Out West, Øya and Flow Festival.
During an interview with NME this March, frontman Jarvis Cocker confirmed that the group’s touring plans would extend into 2025. They have since announced their first run of North American dates in over a decade for this autumn.
Elsewhere, Pulp debuted new song ‘Background Noise’ at a show in Mexico in December. Drummer Nick Banks also recently hinted to NME that more new material could be on the way from the band, but wasn’t so certain about new music any time soon.
