Jarvis Cocker receives honorary doctorate from home Uni

Jarvis Cocker, former lead singer of Pulp and one of Sheffield's greatest musical icons, received an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University at a special ceremony at Sheffield City Hall today.

Jarvis is one of Sheffield's best loved musical sons, and as well as his musical career he has had success in documentary and current affairs broadcasting, video production, curation and art installation.

Jarvis said: "It's a great honour to be given this award, especially in my home town, so thanks very much and congratulations to everyone collecting their degrees today.

"I've worn some stage gear in my time, but I think this one takes the biscuit. I'm a doctor now, but don't worry I won't open up a surgery in your locality."

Vice Chancellor Professor Philip Jones conferred the award on Jarvis in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music and the arts.

Jarvis has a close association with Sheffield Polytechnic, which went on to become Sheffield Hallam University. He studied there and Pulp also received their first big break there. The band handed their demo tape to John Peel, who was DJing at the Polytechnic. He loved them and in 1981 he offered the band one of his famous Peel Sessions on Radio 1.

Following this early success, the band gradually drifted away as its members chose higher education. It was then that Jarvis enrolled for an Access course at Sheffield Polytechnic, which then allowed him to win a place at Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design in London.

After graduating, Pulp reformed and by the early 1990s they had achieved both popular success and critical acclaim. In 1994 Pulp was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, and in the following year their signature single Common People reached number two in the charts.

Many of Pulp's songs and lyrics reference Sheffield, and Jarvis believes that music should have a strong sense of place.

Since 1999 Jarvis has expanded his repertoire, and as well as launching a successful solo career he has achieved as a film maker, radio producer and artist.